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  • California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo/
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California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, California
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2021 Rankings for California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

Learn how Cal Poly San Luis Obispo ranks across all of College Factual's rankings including Best Colleges Nationwide, Best Colleges for Your Money, Best Colleges in California and the region, and Best Majors. You can select an alternate year 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017

Top 2021 Rankings For California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

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  • Highest Paid Graduates for Fine & Studio Arts (ranked 1 out of 345)
  • Most Popular for Agriculture & Agriculture Operations (ranked 3 out of 577)
  • Most Popular for Architecture & Related Services (ranked 2 out of 282)
  • Best Colleges For The Money (undergraduates getting no aid - statewide) (ranked 1 out of 90)
  • Most Popular for Business Administration & Management (ranked 31 out of 2403)

A more complete picture of where California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is the "best of the best" can be found on our 2021 Badges Awarded page.

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All 2021 Rankings For California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

Learn more about our methodologies that drive these rankings.

  • Traditional Students
  • Student Athletes
  • Non-Traditional Students
  • Veterans
  • International
Top Quality Overall
better
worse
Nationwide
155 of 1715
Far Western US
24 of 173
California
20 of 116
Best Colleges For The Money (all undergraduates)
better
worse
Nationwide
356 of 1472
Far Western US
14 of 142
California
11 of 90
Best Colleges For The Money (undergraduates getting aid)
better
worse
Nationwide
408 of 1472
Far Western US
18 of 142
California
13 of 90
Best Colleges For The Money (undergraduates getting no aid)
better
worse
Nationwide
60 of 1471
Far Western US
2 of 142
California
1 of 90
Diversity
better
worse
Overall
205 of 3516
Ethnic
966 of 3790
Male / Female
258 of 3789
Location
619 of 3515
Agriculture & Agriculture Operations
better
worse
Top Ranked
4 of 98
Best Value
22 of 97
Most Popular
3 of 577
Most Focused
27 of 579
Highest Paid Grads
9 of 105
Agricultural Economics & Business
better
worse
Top Ranked
6 of 57
Best Value
12 of 57
Most Popular
5 of 250
Most Focused
40 of 250
Highest Paid Grads
2 of 58
Agricultural Mechanization
better
worse
Most Popular
6 of 58
Most Focused
 
41 of 58
Agricultural Production
better
worse
Most Popular
3 of 167
Most Focused
68 of 167
Agricultural Public Services
better
worse
Most Popular
7 of 34
Most Focused
13 of 34
Animal Science
better
worse
Top Ranked
24 of 66
Best Value
25 of 66
Most Popular
6 of 113
Most Focused
19 of 113
Highest Paid Grads
33 of 68
Food Science Technology
better
worse
Most Popular
9 of 67
Most Focused
14 of 67
Highest Paid Grads
7 of 19
General Agriculture
better
worse
Most Popular
34 of 145
Most Focused
 
101 of 145
Horticulture
better
worse
Most Popular
 
186 of 195
Most Focused
 
195 of 195
Plant Sciences
better
worse
Most Popular
4 of 97
Most Focused
28 of 97
Highest Paid Grads
7 of 33
Soil Sciences
better
worse
Most Popular
 
17 of 22
Most Focused
 
17 of 22
Architecture & Related Services
better
worse
Top Ranked
8 of 62
Best Value
6 of 59
Most Popular
2 of 282
Most Focused
32 of 281
Highest Paid Grads
9 of 88
General Architecture
better
worse
Top Ranked
7 of 55
Best Value
3 of 52
Most Popular
2 of 117
Most Focused
20 of 117
Highest Paid Grads
4 of 60
Landscape Architecture
better
worse
Most Popular
3 of 52
Most Focused
6 of 52
Highest Paid Grads
 
8 of 15
Urban & Regional Planning
better
worse
Most Popular
7 of 39
Most Focused
8 of 39
Area, Ethnic, Culture, & Gender Studies
better
worse
Most Popular
159 of 581
Most Focused
 
384 of 581
Ethnic Studies
better
worse
Most Popular
83 of 466
Most Focused
 
263 of 466
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
better
worse
Top Ranked
109 of 651
Best Value
144 of 637
Most Popular
80 of 1720
Most Focused
650 of 1720
Highest Paid Grads
134 of 675
Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology
better
worse
Top Ranked
31 of 64
Best Value
28 of 63
Most Popular
46 of 608
Most Focused
297 of 608
Highest Paid Grads
27 of 64
General Biology
better
worse
Top Ranked
59 of 630
Best Value
94 of 617
Most Popular
61 of 1640
Most Focused
665 of 1638
Highest Paid Grads
138 of 649
Microbiological Sciences & Immunology
better
worse
Most Popular
32 of 100
Most Focused
45 of 100
Business, Management & Marketing
better
worse
Top Ranked
58 of 1153
Best Value
225 of 1035
Most Popular
124 of 2851
Most Focused
1281 of 2851
Highest Paid Grads
36 of 1328
Business Administration & Management
better
worse
Top Ranked
20 of 957
Best Value
171 of 876
Most Popular
31 of 2403
Most Focused
594 of 2403
Highest Paid Grads
17 of 1083
Construction Management
better
worse
Most Popular
3 of 108
Most Focused
31 of 108
Communication & Journalism
better
worse
Top Ranked
130 of 585
Best Value
210 of 567
Most Popular
202 of 1501
Most Focused
 
908 of 1501
Highest Paid Grads
137 of 657
Communication & Media Studies
better
worse
Top Ranked
91 of 504
Best Value
147 of 490
Most Popular
320 of 1242
Most Focused
 
1031 of 1242
Highest Paid Grads
37 of 537
Journalism
better
worse
Top Ranked
48 of 143
Best Value
49 of 140
Most Popular
42 of 425
Most Focused
99 of 425
Highest Paid Grads
57 of 148
Communications Technologies & Support
better
worse
Most Popular
10 of 437
Most Focused
136 of 437
Highest Paid Grads
2 of 59
Graphic Communications
better
worse
Most Popular
4 of 280
Most Focused
82 of 280
Highest Paid Grads
2 of 41
Computer & Information Sciences
better
worse
Most Popular
161 of 2317
Most Focused
1135 of 2316
Computer Science
better
worse
Most Popular
55 of 778
Most Focused
212 of 778
Education
better
worse
Top Ranked
286 of 622
Best Value
 
471 of 593
Most Popular
467 of 1885
Most Focused
 
1668 of 1885
Highest Paid Grads
 
631 of 694
Teacher Education Grade Specific
better
worse
Top Ranked
144 of 540
Best Value
 
345 of 519
Most Popular
295 of 1560
Most Focused
 
1370 of 1560
Highest Paid Grads
 
548 of 585
Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked
25 of 323
Best Value
27 of 319
Most Popular
13 of 1000
Most Focused
67 of 999
Highest Paid Grads
27 of 343
Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked
16 of 50
Best Value
8 of 50
Most Popular
18 of 68
Most Focused
21 of 68
Highest Paid Grads
2 of 51
Agricultural Engineering
better
worse
Most Popular
13 of 33
Most Focused
12 of 33
Architectural Engineering
better
worse
Most Popular
3 of 24
Most Focused
8 of 24
Highest Paid Grads
 
10 of 11
Biomedical Engineering
better
worse
Most Popular
8 of 165
Most Focused
48 of 165
Highest Paid Grads
21 of 62
Civil Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked
29 of 183
Best Value
18 of 182
Most Popular
14 of 282
Most Focused
58 of 282
Highest Paid Grads
7 of 186
Computer Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked
25 of 102
Best Value
11 of 99
Most Popular
12 of 304
Most Focused
37 of 304
Highest Paid Grads
5 of 108
Electrical Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked
49 of 199
Best Value
21 of 196
Most Popular
22 of 390
Most Focused
86 of 390
Highest Paid Grads
18 of 206
Engineering Science
better
worse
Most Popular
22 of 64
Most Focused
 
52 of 64
Environmental Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked
5 of 23
Best Value
2 of 23
Most Popular
5 of 95
Most Focused
21 of 95
Highest Paid Grads
1 of 23
Industrial Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
31 of 56
Best Value
 
32 of 55
Most Popular
13 of 116
Most Focused
42 of 116
Highest Paid Grads
13 of 58
Manufacturing Engineering
better
worse
Most Popular
 
18 of 31
Most Focused
 
21 of 31
Materials Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
15 of 21
Best Value
8 of 21
Most Popular
11 of 57
Most Focused
15 of 57
Highest Paid Grads
8 of 21
Mechanical Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked
50 of 274
Best Value
29 of 272
Most Popular
19 of 374
Most Focused
101 of 374
Highest Paid Grads
16 of 278
Engineering Technologies
better
worse
Most Popular
260 of 1178
Most Focused
 
918 of 1178
Industrial Production Technology
better
worse
Most Popular
35 of 346
Most Focused
 
181 of 346
English Language & Literature
better
worse
Top Ranked
131 of 430
Best Value
153 of 416
Most Popular
154 of 1549
Most Focused
 
1004 of 1549
Highest Paid Grads
65 of 509
General English Literature
better
worse
Top Ranked
100 of 440
Best Value
113 of 426
Most Popular
134 of 1432
Most Focused
 
824 of 1432
Highest Paid Grads
56 of 467
Family, Consumer & Human Sciences
better
worse
Most Popular
 
806 of 832
Most Focused
 
832 of 832
Human Development & Family Studies
better
worse
Most Popular
 
695 of 716
Most Focused
 
716 of 716
Foreign Languages & Linguistics
better
worse
Most Popular
 
826 of 1114
Most Focused
 
1106 of 1114
Linguistics & Comparative Literature
better
worse
Most Popular
 
271 of 348
Most Focused
 
336 of 348
History
better
worse
Top Ranked
90 of 309
Best Value
95 of 302
Most Popular
104 of 1404
Most Focused
 
762 of 1404
Highest Paid Grads
153 of 331
History
better
worse
Top Ranked
87 of 313
Best Value
86 of 306
Most Popular
104 of 1404
Most Focused
 
762 of 1404
Highest Paid Grads
153 of 331
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
better
worse
Top Ranked
56 of 306
Best Value
110 of 289
Most Popular
778 of 2025
Most Focused
 
1543 of 2025
Highest Paid Grads
 
272 of 354
Liberal Arts General Studies
better
worse
Top Ranked
49 of 306
Best Value
102 of 289
Most Popular
778 of 2025
Most Focused
 
1543 of 2025
Highest Paid Grads
 
272 of 354
Mathematics & Statistics
better
worse
Top Ranked
62 of 191
Best Value
46 of 188
Most Popular
71 of 1437
Most Focused
395 of 1438
Highest Paid Grads
66 of 201
Mathematics
better
worse
Top Ranked
59 of 176
Best Value
43 of 172
Most Popular
84 of 1382
Most Focused
564 of 1382
Highest Paid Grads
49 of 181
Statistics
better
worse
Most Popular
37 of 151
Most Focused
61 of 151
Multi / Interdisciplinary Studies
better
worse
Most Popular
252 of 1403
Most Focused
 
784 of 1403
Marine Science
better
worse
Most Popular
 
4 of 7
Most Focused
 
5 of 7
Nutrition Science
better
worse
Most Popular
16 of 81
Most Focused
20 of 81
Natural Resources & Conservation
better
worse
Top Ranked
32 of 190
Best Value
27 of 184
Most Popular
35 of 941
Most Focused
265 of 940
Highest Paid Grads
45 of 198
Forestry
better
worse
Most Popular
13 of 94
Most Focused
 
58 of 94
Highest Paid Grads
4 of 19
Natural Resource Management
better
worse
Most Popular
3 of 95
Most Focused
23 of 95
Highest Paid Grads
 
12 of 19
Parks, Recreation, Leisure, & Fitness Studies
better
worse
Most Popular
59 of 1219
Most Focused
490 of 1220
Health & Physical Education
better
worse
Most Popular
101 of 1131
Most Focused
 
683 of 1131
Parks, Recreation & Leisure Studies
better
worse
Most Popular
7 of 121
Most Focused
40 of 121
Philosophy & Religious Studies
better
worse
Most Popular
94 of 1011
Most Focused
 
556 of 1011
Philosophy
better
worse
Most Popular
56 of 803
Most Focused
352 of 803
Physical Sciences
better
worse
Most Popular
70 of 1381
Most Focused
462 of 1382
Chemistry
better
worse
Most Popular
129 of 1229
Most Focused
 
768 of 1229
Geological & Earth Sciences
better
worse
Most Popular
20 of 489
Most Focused
119 of 489
Physics
better
worse
Most Popular
63 of 819
Most Focused
381 of 819
Psychology
better
worse
Top Ranked
127 of 782
Best Value
206 of 748
Most Popular
310 of 1699
Most Focused
 
1536 of 1699
Highest Paid Grads
145 of 882
General Psychology
better
worse
Top Ranked
106 of 779
Best Value
185 of 744
Most Popular
278 of 1563
Most Focused
 
1403 of 1563
Highest Paid Grads
118 of 814
Social Sciences
better
worse
Top Ranked
213 of 558
Best Value
259 of 539
Most Popular
167 of 1548
Most Focused
718 of 1548
Highest Paid Grads
89 of 592
Economics
better
worse
Top Ranked
108 of 276
Best Value
51 of 273
Most Popular
166 of 817
Most Focused
 
443 of 817
Highest Paid Grads
60 of 280
Political Science & Government
better
worse
Top Ranked
83 of 367
Best Value
40 of 358
Most Popular
88 of 1221
Most Focused
409 of 1220
Highest Paid Grads
21 of 376
Social Sciences (Other)
better
worse
Top Ranked
 
15 of 24
Best Value
 
18 of 24
Most Popular
12 of 90
Most Focused
 
58 of 90
Highest Paid Grads
 
25 of 26
Sociology
better
worse
Top Ranked
72 of 356
Best Value
84 of 347
Most Popular
153 of 1100
Most Focused
 
700 of 1100
Highest Paid Grads
13 of 372
Visual & Performing Arts
better
worse
Top Ranked
83 of 510
Best Value
95 of 483
Most Popular
417 of 2022
Most Focused
 
1637 of 2022
Highest Paid Grads
13 of 546
Drama & Theater Arts
better
worse
Most Popular
292 of 968
Most Focused
 
795 of 968
Fine & Studio Arts
better
worse
Top Ranked
8 of 332
Best Value
34 of 321
Most Popular
151 of 1368
Most Focused
 
830 of 1368
Highest Paid Grads
1 of 345
Music
better
worse
Most Popular
539 of 1238
Most Focused
 
1164 of 1238
Men's Sports
better
worse
Men's Baseball (D1)
103 of 271
Men's Basketball (D1)
 
168 of 324
Men's Football (FCS)
21 of 117
Men's Soccer (D1)
 
114 of 188
Women's Sports
better
worse
Women's Basketball (D1)
 
200 of 324
Women's Soccer (D1)
 
170 of 306
Women's Softball (D1)
63 of 273
Women's Volleyball (D1)
86 of 307
Veterans
better
worse
Overall
214 of 2104
Agriculture & Agriculture Operations
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
11 of 99
Agricultural Economics & Business
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
12 of 57
Animal Science
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
30 of 67
Architecture & Related Services
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
14 of 61
General Architecture
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
16 of 55
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
176 of 648
Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
52 of 63
General Biology
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
133 of 627
Business, Management & Marketing
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
134 of 1178
Business Administration & Management
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
55 of 979
Communication & Journalism
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
207 of 581
Communication & Media Studies
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
204 of 499
Journalism
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
86 of 143
Education
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
501 of 627
Teacher Education Grade Specific
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
386 of 543
Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
33 of 322
Aerospace & Aeronautical Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
24 of 50
Civil Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
35 of 183
Computer Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
26 of 100
Electrical Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
88 of 200
Environmental Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
8 of 23
Industrial Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
40 of 58
Materials Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
18 of 21
Mechanical Engineering
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
77 of 275
English Language & Literature
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
212 of 423
General English Literature
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
174 of 432
History
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
191 of 304
History
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
187 of 308
Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
248 of 304
Liberal Arts General Studies
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
238 of 304
Mathematics & Statistics
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
73 of 190
Mathematics
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
85 of 174
Natural Resources & Conservation
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
59 of 188
Psychology
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
345 of 779
General Psychology
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
261 of 775
Social Sciences
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
318 of 552
Economics
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
98 of 275
Political Science & Government
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
80 of 362
Social Sciences (Other)
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
 
22 of 24
Sociology
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
153 of 351
Visual & Performing Arts
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
125 of 508
Fine & Studio Arts
better
worse
Top Ranked Veterans
13 of 331
Non-Traditional Students
better
worse
Overall
79 of 2188
International Quality
better
worse
OVERALL
228 of 1232
Brazil
171 of 490
Canada
251 of 691
China
283 of 842
Germany
120 of 409
Hong Kong
 
152 of 204
India
231 of 662
Indonesia
 
151 of 221
Italy
 
148 of 226
Japan
218 of 449
Malaysia
 
146 of 244
Mexico
167 of 338
Russia
 
134 of 246
Saudi Arabia
 
314 of 551
South Korea
217 of 596
Sweden
79 of 178
Taiwan
175 of 371
United Kingdom
197 of 556
Vietnam
175 of 511
International Value
better
worse
OVERALL
83 of 1205
Brazil
56 of 477
Canada
85 of 677
China
119 of 820
Germany
32 of 401
Hong Kong
42 of 200
India
101 of 641
Indonesia
36 of 217
Italy
31 of 222
Japan
94 of 441
Malaysia
55 of 241
Mexico
52 of 331
Russia
26 of 241
Saudi Arabia
182 of 540
South Korea
91 of 582
Sweden
24 of 175
Taiwan
54 of 362
United Kingdom
52 of 544
Vietnam
46 of 497
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