Cal Poly's tuition & fees has increased from $20,161 (2015) to $33,230 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 64.82% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $19,195 (year 2015) to $23,765 (year 2025).
The 2025 tuition & fees have risen more than 5% this year (2025) at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.
Cal Poly's tuition increase rate is higher than the California's average increase rate of 14.58%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 53.69% from 2015 ($36,574).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, Cal Poly's COA is $56,210, which is increased by 7.60% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to Cal Poly's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have increased 64.82% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $18,684. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,119, and it has decreased -38.25% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,812 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $1,848 | 1.99% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $1,884 | 1.95% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $1,941 | 3.03% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $1,941 | |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $888 | -54.25% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $909 | 2.36% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $906 | -0.33% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $1,089 | 20.20% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $1,119 | 2.75% |
|---|
Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 44.99% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 44.80% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $14,601 | $14,601 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $15,153 | $15,153 | 3.78% |
|---|
| 2017-18 | $15,837 | $15,837 | 4.51% |
|---|
| 2018-19 | $16,545 | $16,545 | 4.47% |
|---|
| 2019-20 | $17,043 | $17,541 | 3.01% |
|---|
| 2020-21 | $17,884 | $17,884 | 4.93% |
|---|
| 2021-22 | $18,576 | $18,576 | 3.87% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $18,693 | $18,693 | 0.63% |
|---|
| 2023-24 | $20,157 | $20,979 | 7.83% |
|---|
| 2024-25 | $21,861 | $23,097 | 8.45% |
|---|
Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | $33,230
($12,161) | $30,995
($11,075) | 7.21% |
|---|
|
| California State University-Northridge | $20,058
($7,458) | $18,975
($7,095) | 5.71% |
|---|
|
| University of California-Irvine | $46,640
($14,752) | $45,014
($14,237) | 3.61% |
|---|
|
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | $34,218
($12,186) | $34,218
($12,186) | - |
|---|
|
| University of California-Santa Barbara | $47,332
($15,444) | $45,742
($14,965) | 3.48% |
|---|
|
| University of California-Davis | $47,692
($15,804) | $46,024
($15,247) | 3.62% |
|---|
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