86%
Graduation Rate
1%
Transfer-out Rate
96%
Retention Rate
[updated for 2024-2025 graduation data]
At California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, the graduation rate is 86 % within 150% normal time, the retention rate is 96 %, and the transfer-out rate is 1 %, as of August 31, 2025.
Its graduation rate is much higher than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 49.72% (public Master's College and University with larger programs).
Graduation Rates in Reasonable Completion Time
For the academic year 2024-2025, 3,787 students out of 4,383 candidates have completed their courses within 150% normal time (i.e. in 6 years for 4-year BS degree) at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.
By gender, 1,800 male and 1,987 female students graduated the school last year completing their jobs in the period.
| Candidates | Completers | Graduation Rates |
|---|
| Total | 4,383 | 3,787 | 86.40% |
|---|
| Men | 2,137 | 1,800 | 84.23% |
|---|
| Women | 2,246 | 1,987 | 88.47% |
|---|
Graduation Rate By Race/Ethnicity
The following table shows graduation rate by race and at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 85.71%
- Asian: 88.94%
- Black (Non-Hispanic): 60.87%
- Hispanic: 82.95%
- White: 87.62%
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: 100.00%
- Two or More Race: 81.98%
- Unknown: 85.42%
Graduation Rate by Gender
| Total | Male | Female |
|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 85.71%(6/7) |
100.00%(2/2) |
80.00%(4/5) |
|---|
| Asian | 88.94%(531/597) |
85.67%(257/300) |
92.26%(274/297) |
|---|
| Black (Non-Hispanic) | 60.87%(14/23) |
58.33%(7/12) |
63.64%(7/11) |
|---|
| Hispanic | 82.95%(535/645) |
82.22%(259/315) |
83.64%(276/330) |
|---|
| White | 87.62%(2,244/2,561) |
85.87%(1,057/1,231) |
89.25%(1,187/1,330) |
|---|
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 100.00%(11/11) |
100.00%(4/4) |
100.00%(7/7) |
|---|
| Two or More Race | 81.98%(273/333) |
78.82%(134/170) |
85.28%(139/163) |
|---|
| Unknown | 85.42%(123/144) |
80.00%(56/70) |
90.54%(67/74) |
|---|
Transfer-out and Retention Rates
At Cal Poly, the transfer-out rate is 1.32%. Its transfer-out rate is much lower than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 19.27%.
Cal Poly's retention rate is 96% for full-time students and 60 % for part-time students last year. Its retention rate is higher than the average rate when comparing similar colleges' rate of 72.64%.
Non-Resident Alien Graduation Rate
A non-resident alien student is not a US citizen/green card holder and studies with a student visa, such as an F visa, in the United States. At California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo, 50 of 62 non-resident alien students completed their studies and the graduation rate was 80.65%.