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 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015
A more complete picture of where California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is the "best of the best" can be found on our 2018 Badges Awarded page.
Learn more about our methodologies that drive these rankings.
better worse | |
| Nationwide | 228 of 1383 |
| Far Western US | 35 of 126 |
| California | 28 of 81 |
better worse | |
| Nationwide | 259 of 1325 |
| Far Western US | 11 of 124 |
| California | 12 of 79 |
better worse | |
| Nationwide | 298 of 1325 |
| Far Western US | 14 of 124 |
| California | 12 of 79 |
better worse | |
| Nationwide | 36 of 1324 |
| Far Western US | 3 of 124 |
| California | 4 of 79 |
better worse | |
| Overall | 174 of 2355 |
| Ethnic | 690 of 2594 |
| Male / Female | 444 of 2593 |
| Location | 420 of 2360 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 5 of 101 |
| Best Value | 8 of 101 |
| Most Popular | 3 of 227 |
| Most Focused | 17 of 227 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 19 of 99 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 13 of 72 |
| Best Value | 8 of 72 |
| Most Popular | 6 of 116 |
| Most Focused | 19 of 116 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 26 of 72 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 6 of 24 |
| Most Focused | 12 of 24 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 5 of 49 |
| Most Focused | 14 of 49 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 6 of 25 |
| Most Focused | 9 of 25 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 4 of 74 |
| Best Value | 2 of 74 |
| Most Popular | 5 of 89 |
| Most Focused | 12 of 89 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 33 of 72 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 15 of 34 |
| Most Popular | 18 of 48 |
| Most Focused | 17 of 48 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 2 of 34 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 1 of 19 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 2 of 79 |
| Most Focused | 14 of 79 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 10 of 21 |
| Most Focused |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 6 of 106 |
| Best Value | 2 of 105 |
| Most Popular | 1 of 208 |
| Most Focused | 31 of 208 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 22 of 145 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 21 of 93 |
| Best Value | 3 of 92 |
| Most Popular | 4 of 122 |
| Most Focused | 29 of 122 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 16 of 96 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 11 of 31 |
| Best Value | 5 of 31 |
| Most Popular | 3 of 50 |
| Most Focused | 4 of 50 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 13 of 39 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 5 of 23 |
| Best Value | 2 of 23 |
| Most Popular | 6 of 38 |
| Most Focused | 10 of 38 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 4 of 30 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 240 of 527 |
| Most Focused |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 145 of 391 |
| Most Focused |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 115 of 823 |
| Best Value | 78 of 805 |
| Most Popular | 81 of 1414 |
| Most Focused | 583 of 1413 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 37 of 892 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 67 of 242 |
| Best Value | 15 of 239 |
| Most Popular | 61 of 571 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 23 of 367 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 108 of 818 |
| Best Value | 73 of 800 |
| Most Popular | 64 of 1373 |
| Most Focused | 557 of 1372 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 68 of 850 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 36 of 96 |
| Most Focused | 43 of 96 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 1 of 69 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 84 of 825 |
| Best Value | 96 of 798 |
| Most Popular | 251 of 2041 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 34 of 902 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 56 of 724 |
| Best Value | 76 of 701 |
| Most Popular | 66 of 1719 |
| Most Focused | 798 of 1720 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 18 of 726 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 63 of 582 |
| Best Value | 67 of 570 |
| Most Popular | 221 of 1219 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 82 of 715 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 234 of 1036 |
| Most Focused |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 30 of 183 |
| Best Value | 12 of 180 |
| Most Popular | 79 of 343 |
| Most Focused | 156 of 343 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 22 of 233 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 13 of 225 |
| Most Focused |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 6 of 147 |
| Most Focused | 69 of 147 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 54 of 568 |
| Best Value | 27 of 547 |
| Most Popular | 153 of 1604 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 35 of 825 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 29 of 268 |
| Best Value | 15 of 260 |
| Most Popular | 41 of 599 |
| Most Focused | 157 of 599 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 15 of 360 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 26 of 421 |
| Best Value | 81 of 409 |
| Most Popular | 341 of 1366 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 8 of 708 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 335 of 1169 |
| Most Focused |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 19 of 351 |
| Best Value | 65 of 342 |
| Most Popular | 196 of 864 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 6 of 504 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 24 of 309 |
| Best Value | 14 of 302 |
| Most Popular | 11 of 582 |
| Most Focused | 44 of 582 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 53 of 356 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 26 of 58 |
| Best Value | 9 of 56 |
| Most Popular | 16 of 65 |
| Most Focused | 21 of 65 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 8 of 53 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 10 of 25 |
| Most Popular | 15 of 31 |
| Most Focused | 9 of 31 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 3 of 25 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 3 of 21 |
| Most Focused | 7 of 21 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 2 of 20 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 39 of 94 |
| Most Popular | 14 of 137 |
| Most Focused | 38 of 137 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 22 of 91 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 38 of 209 |
| Best Value | 10 of 205 |
| Most Popular | 13 of 260 |
| Most Focused | 52 of 260 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 25 of 209 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 32 of 162 |
| Best Value | 8 of 157 |
| Most Popular | 6 of 271 |
| Most Focused | 26 of 272 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 23 of 191 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 1 of 20 |
| Most Focused | 1 of 20 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 65 of 261 |
| Best Value | 20 of 255 |
| Most Popular | 18 of 343 |
| Most Focused | 70 of 343 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 38 of 274 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 11 of 36 |
| Most Focused |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 22 of 46 |
| Best Value | 6 of 45 |
| Most Popular | 2 of 81 |
| Most Focused | 21 of 81 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 16 of 57 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 28 of 79 |
| Best Value | 12 of 78 |
| Most Popular | 14 of 109 |
| Most Focused | 25 of 109 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 4 of 91 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 15 of 44 |
| Most Popular | 10 of 51 |
| Most Focused | 15 of 51 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 18 of 45 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 61 of 269 |
| Best Value | 18 of 263 |
| Most Popular | 8 of 327 |
| Most Focused | 50 of 326 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 28 of 264 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 99 of 459 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 1 of 179 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 11 of 133 |
| Most Focused | 55 of 133 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 176 of 612 |
| Best Value | 116 of 596 |
| Most Popular | 265 of 1360 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 47 of 874 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 141 of 625 |
| Best Value | 79 of 609 |
| Most Popular | 215 of 1281 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 38 of 805 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 5 of 202 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 25 of 656 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 12 of 583 |
| Best Value | 56 of 562 |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 3 of 72 |
| Best Value | 12 of 72 |
| Most Popular | 11 of 128 |
| Most Focused | 28 of 128 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 2 of 79 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 189 of 570 |
| Best Value | 114 of 553 |
| Most Popular | 245 of 1261 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 51 of 138 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 183 of 594 |
| Best Value | 110 of 577 |
| Most Popular | 245 of 1261 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 83 of 831 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 32 of 340 |
| Best Value | 27 of 328 |
| Most Popular | 229 of 1152 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 22 of 462 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 28 of 352 |
| Best Value | 27 of 339 |
| Most Popular | 229 of 1152 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 22 of 505 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 55 of 468 |
| Best Value | 22 of 456 |
| Most Popular | 46 of 1230 |
| Most Focused | 234 of 1231 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 39 of 811 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 78 of 471 |
| Best Value | 20 of 459 |
| Most Popular | 56 of 1179 |
| Most Focused | 376 of 1178 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 39 of 772 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 21 of 58 |
| Most Popular | 18 of 126 |
| Most Focused | 28 of 126 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 15 of 82 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 13 of 49 |
| Best Value | 12 of 48 |
| Most Popular | 43 of 745 |
| Most Focused | 220 of 745 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 2 of 270 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 8 of 30 |
| Best Value | 6 of 30 |
| Most Popular | 8 of 59 |
| Most Focused | 24 of 59 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 2 of 35 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 3 of 28 |
| Best Value | 1 of 27 |
| Most Popular | 5 of 70 |
| Most Focused | 21 of 70 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 1 of 31 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 7 of 452 |
| Best Value | 76 of 445 |
| Most Popular | 47 of 890 |
| Most Focused | 374 of 890 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 30 of 415 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 29 of 443 |
| Best Value | 78 of 436 |
| Most Popular | 83 of 820 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 14 of 456 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 4 of 59 |
| Best Value | 14 of 58 |
| Most Popular | 7 of 109 |
| Most Focused | 38 of 109 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 1 of 72 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 88 of 241 |
| Most Popular | 308 of 956 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 39 of 616 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | 62 of 240 |
| Most Popular | 196 of 756 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 38 of 544 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 96 of 473 |
| Best Value | 42 of 463 |
| Most Popular | 65 of 1142 |
| Most Focused | 366 of 1143 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 27 of 787 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 103 of 411 |
| Best Value | 48 of 403 |
| Most Popular | 143 of 1087 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 49 of 753 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 93 of 249 |
| Best Value | 62 of 248 |
| Most Popular | 43 of 430 |
| Most Focused | 167 of 430 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 31 of 346 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 91 of 253 |
| Best Value | 21 of 248 |
| Most Popular | 28 of 705 |
| Most Focused | 224 of 705 |
| Highest Paid Grads | 41 of 534 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 178 of 826 |
| Best Value | 144 of 807 |
| Most Popular | 395 of 1492 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 65 of 899 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 151 of 832 |
| Best Value | 118 of 813 |
| Most Popular | 367 of 1407 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 59 of 842 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 181 of 676 |
| Best Value | 110 of 661 |
| Most Popular | 197 of 1317 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 32 of 877 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 146 of 442 |
| Best Value | 53 of 433 |
| Most Popular | 159 of 729 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 60 of 542 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 92 of 597 |
| Best Value | 32 of 582 |
| Most Popular | 168 of 1081 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 12 of 764 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | 18 of 92 |
| Most Focused |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 161 of 524 |
| Best Value | 105 of 517 |
| Most Popular | 156 of 969 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 42 of 695 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | |
| Best Value | |
| Most Popular | 445 of 1529 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 52 of 852 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 31 of 544 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked | 147 of 507 |
| Best Value | 79 of 498 |
| Most Popular | 177 of 1114 |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 25 of 693 |
better worse | |
| Most Popular | |
| Most Focused | |
| Highest Paid Grads | 36 of 657 |
better worse | |
| Overall | 125 of 1424 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 6 of 102 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 12 of 72 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 20 of 74 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 6 of 108 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 12 of 95 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 5 of 23 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 87 of 831 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 45 of 243 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 77 of 829 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 124 of 861 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 76 of 759 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 71 of 590 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 27 of 184 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 47 of 587 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 21 of 274 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 41 of 430 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 34 of 361 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 23 of 316 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 23 of 58 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 28 of 213 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 23 of 164 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 56 of 267 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 22 of 46 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 34 of 81 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 52 of 276 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 175 of 617 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 112 of 631 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 31 of 605 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 7 of 73 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 40 of 349 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 30 of 361 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 47 of 473 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 44 of 476 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 29 of 58 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 21 of 50 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 14 of 30 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 4 of 29 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 8 of 460 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 46 of 451 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 5 of 59 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 110 of 246 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 76 of 477 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 90 of 413 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 70 of 251 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 75 of 254 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 201 of 841 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 133 of 848 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 187 of 681 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 120 of 442 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 41 of 601 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 175 of 528 |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans |
better worse | |
| Top Ranked Veterans | 125 of 521 |
better worse | |
| Overall | 196 of 1164 |
