California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

What are the graduation rates for students at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?

Cal Poly's reported six-year graduation rate is 86% for the measured cohort of first-time, full-time students seeking a bachelor's degree. Its four-year rate is 61%. These figures describe what happened to earlier entering cohorts, not the probability that a particular student will graduate on either schedule.

The reported first-year retention rate is 96%, meaning most students in the measured first-time cohort returned the following fall. Transfers, part-time students and students who initially enroll elsewhere do not necessarily appear in these standard first-time-cohort graduation measures. For an applicant, the difference between four- and six-year completion is financially significant: an additional term can mean more living expenses even if tuition is comparatively affordable.

What is the earning potential for graduates at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?

College Scorecard program-level figures offer a limited view of earnings approximately one year after completion for federally aided students included in the measure. They are median earnings for the relevant reported group - not starting-salary offers, the earnings of every graduate or predictions for future students.

In the October 2026 Scorecard figures, the one-year median is $91,493 for computer engineering and $91,351 for computer science. Construction management is reported at $83,616, while business administration is $63,640. The figures also vary substantially outside those fields: animal sciences is reported at $30,350 and psychology at $29,831.

Differences can reflect occupations, location, further study and who is included in each measured group. A one-year figure cannot show lifetime earnings or the value of a degree that commonly leads to graduate or professional education. Prospective students should compare outcomes for their intended program, not treat a high figure from an unrelated major as a campus-wide result.