How much does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo tuition cost?
The 2025 tuition & fees of California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $12,161 for in-state and $33,230 for out-of-state students. Cal Poly's tuition & fees has risen more than 5% this year.
Its tuition & fees is higher than the average tuition for Master's College and University (larger programs)' tuition of $24,300 based on out-of-state tuition rate.
Based on the last year increase rate, The 2026 estimated tuition & fees at Cal Poly is $13,353 for California residents and $35,626 for out-of-state students, a 7.2% increase compared to 2025's rate.
Cal Poly 2025 Tuition & Fees
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State | Master's College And University (larger Programs)' Average |
|---|
| 2023-2024 | $11,075 |
$30,995 | $23,694 |
| 2024-2025 | $12,161 | $33,230 | $24,300 |
| Change % 2024-2025 | 9.81% | 7.21% | 2.56% |
| 2025-2026 Estimate | $13,353 | $35,626 | $24,921 |
How much do you actually pay at Cal Poly?
The living costs at Cal Poly is $21,861 when living on campus. The on-campus living costs increased by 8.45% compared to the previous year. The off-campus living costs increased by 10.10%.
The Cal Poly's 2025 COA is $35,141 for in-state and $56,210 for out-of-state students for living on campus. The off-campus COA is $36,377 for in-state and $57,446 for out-of-state students.
52% of enrolled students have received grants or scholarships, and the average aid amount is $12,264. It could cover 36.91% of the full tuition amount.
After receiving the financial aid, the net price is $22,877 for in-state and $43,946 for out-of-state students..
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo 2025 Cost of Attendance (COA) | On-Campus | Off-Campus |
|---|
| In-State | Out-State | In-State | Out-State |
|---|
| Tuition & Fees | $12,161 | $33,230 | $12,161 | $33,230 |
|---|
| Room & Board | $18,792 | $19,155 |
|---|
| Personal Expenses | $3,069 | $3,942 |
|---|
| Books & Supplies | $1,119 | $1,119 |
|---|
| COA | $35,141 | $56,210 | $36,377 | $57,446 |
|---|
| COA with Financial Aid | $22,877 | $43,946 | $24,113 | $45,182 |
|---|
Cal Poly 4-Years Tuition
How Much is Cal Poly tuition for 4 years?
Cal Poly's 4-years tuition is $51,420 for in-state and $138,602 for out-of-state students, based on current tuition and change rate.
Cal Poly 4 Years Tuition & Fees Estimates
| Residency | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 4 Years Total |
|---|
| Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025) | In-State | $12,433 | $12,710 | $12,994 | $13,284 | $51,420 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $33,789 | $34,357 | $34,935 | $35,522 | $138,602 |
| Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026) | In-State | $12,710 | $12,994 | $13,284 | $13,580 | $52,568 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $34,357 | $34,935 | $35,522 | $36,119 | $140,933 |
| Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027) | In-State | $12,994 | $13,284 | $13,580 | $13,884 | $53,742 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $34,935 | $35,522 | $36,119 | $36,727 | $143,303 |
| Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028) | In-State | $13,284 | $13,580 | $13,884 | $14,194 | $54,942 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $35,522 | $36,119 | $36,727 | $37,344 | $145,712 |
| Class of 2033 (Entering Fall 2029) | In-State | $13,580 | $13,884 | $14,194 | $14,511 | $56,168 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $36,119 | $36,727 | $37,344 | $37,972 | $148,162 |
Net Price for 4 Years at Cal Poly
Based on recent tuition increase rate, for the students who were admitted in Fall 2025, the estimated 4-years COA is $147,760 for California residents and $234,942 for out-of-state students.
Cal Poly 4 Years COA
| Residency | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 4 Years Total |
|---|
| Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025) | In-State | $35,846 | $36,565 | $37,292 | $38,033 | $147,760 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $57,202 | $58,212 | $59,240 | $60,287 | $234,942 |
| Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026) | In-State | $36,565 | $37,300 | $38,041 | $38,798 | $150,727 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $58,212 | $59,240 | $60,287 | $61,352 | $239,091 |
| Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027) | In-State | $37,300 | $38,049 | $38,805 | $39,578 | $153,755 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $59,240 | $60,287 | $61,352 | $62,436 | $243,315 |
| Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028) | In-State | $38,049 | $38,813 | $39,585 | $40,374 | $156,844 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $60,287 | $61,352 | $62,436 | $63,540 | $247,615 |
| Class of 2033 (Entering Fall 2029) | In-State | $38,813 | $39,593 | $40,381 | $41,186 | $159,997 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $61,352 | $62,436 | $63,540 | $64,663 | $251,991 |
Actual COA after Receiving Financial Aid
After receiving the financial aid, the net price for 4 years of attending the school is $98,704 for California residents and $185,886 for out-of-state students.
Cal Poly 4 Years COA after Receiving Financial Aid
| Residency | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 4 Years Total |
|---|
| Class of 2029 (Entering Fall 2025) | In-State | $23,582 | $24,301 | $25,028 | $25,769 | $98,704 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $44,938 | $45,948 | $46,976 | $48,023 | $185,886 |
| Class of 2030 (Entering Fall 2026) | In-State | $24,301 | $25,036 | $25,777 | $26,534 | $101,671 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $45,948 | $46,976 | $48,023 | $49,088 | $190,035 |
| Class of 2031 (Entering Fall 2027) | In-State | $25,036 | $25,785 | $26,541 | $27,314 | $104,699 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $46,976 | $48,023 | $49,088 | $50,172 | $194,259 |
| Class of 2032 (Entering Fall 2028) | In-State | $25,785 | $26,549 | $27,321 | $28,110 | $107,788 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $48,023 | $49,088 | $50,172 | $51,276 | $198,559 |
| Class of 2033 (Entering Fall 2029) | In-State | $26,549 | $27,329 | $28,117 | $28,922 | $110,941 |
|---|
| Out-of-State | $49,088 | $50,172 | $51,276 | $52,399 | $202,935 |
Cal Poly's Graduate Tuition
The graduate school tuition at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is $13,685 for in-state and $23,765 for out-of-state students. Detailed graduate program tuition and majors can be found at Cal Poly graduate program page.
Cal Poly Graduate Tuition & Fees
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|
| 2023-2024 | $12,509 |
$22,013 |
| 2024-2025 | $13,685 | $23,765 |
| Change % 2024-2025 | 9.40% | 7.96% |
|---|
| 2025-2026 | $14,972 | $25,656 |
Tuition Per Credit Hour
For part-time and/or full-time students who take additional credits at Cal Poly is $0 for California residents and $280 for out-of-state students. The graduate tuition per credit hour is $0 for California residents and $280 for out-of-state students.
Per Credit Hour Charge at Cal Poly
| Year | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|
| Undergraduate | 2023-2024 | -$1 | $264 |
|---|
| 2024-2025 | $0 | $280 |
|---|
| 2025-2026 (Estimate) | - | $297 |
|---|
| Graduate | 2023-2024 | - | $264 |
|---|
| 2024-2025 | - | $280 |
|---|
| 2025-2026 (Estimate) | - | $297 |
|---|
Cal Poly Tuition Charts
The following charts visualize tuition, fees, living costs, and other expenses at Cal Poly. You can enlarge the chart to view detailed information.
Compare Tuition with Similar Colleges
The following table compares tuition & fees between California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and its similar schools.
Tuition Comparison between Cal Poly and Similar Colleges
| In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | $12,161 | $33,230 |
|---|
| California State University-Northridge | $7,458 | $20,058 |
|---|
| California State University-Long Beach | $7,374 | $19,974 |
|---|
| California State University-Fullerton | $7,470 | $20,070 |
|---|
| University of California-Irvine | $14,752 | $46,640 |
|---|
| University of California-Davis | $15,804 | $47,692 |
|---|
Cal Poly Tuition Frequently Asked Questions
For the academic year 2024-2025, the undergraduate tuition & fees at Cal Poly are $12,161 for California residents and $33,230 for out-of-state students.
The total cost of attendance (COA) at Cal Poly for the academic year 2024-2025 includes tuition & fees, books & supplies, and living expenses. For in-state students, the estimated COA is $35,141 and $56,210 for out-of-state students. Actual costs may vary depending on housing choices and personal expenses.
It has been risen by 9.81% for California residents and increased by 7.21% for out-of-state rates compared to the previous year. The graduate tuition has been risen by 9.40% for California residents and increased by 7.96% for out-of-state rates compared to the previous year.
52% of Cal Poly undergraduates receive grants or scholarships, with an average aid amount of $12,264 per student. Additional financial aid options are available through Cal Poly's financial aid office.
In-State (California Residents): The projected 4-year cost for a degree is approximately $147,760, including tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, and other expenses. The tuition and fees alone are approximately $13,284 per year, which would total around $51,420 over four years. Out-of-State: The projected 4-year cost for a degree is approximately $234,942. The tuition and fees are around $35,522 per year, totaling about $138,602 over four years.
Cal Poly charges $280 per credit hour for all undergraduates. Graduate students pay $280 per credit hour.
The in-state undergraduate tuition at Cal Poly is a little bit higher than the average for similar schools ($9,818 - public Master's College and University (larger programs)).The out-of-state undergraduate tuition at Cal Poly is much higher than the average for similar schools ($19,272 - public Master's College and University (larger programs)).The in-state graduate tuition at Cal Poly is higher than the average for similar schools ($10,557 - public Master's College and University (larger programs)).The out-of-state graduate tuition at Cal Poly is higher than the average for similar schools ($17,608 - public Master's College and University (larger programs)).