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California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo Acceptance Rate
For the application year 2024, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo has an overall acceptance rate of 31.2%, with 68,604 applicants and 21,416 accepted. The Regular Decision (RD) acceptance also stands at 31.2%. The university's transfer acceptance rate is notably higher at 19.6%, with 10,432 applicants and 2,040 accepted. In terms of waitlist statistics, 6,988 students were offered a place on the waitlist, and 2,905 were accepted, resulting in a 41.6% acceptance rate. SAT scores for admitted students reflect a 25th percentile of 1240 and a 75th percentile of 1420, while ACT scores range from 28 to 33.
Overall Acceptance Rate
Total Applicants: 68,604
Accepted Applicants: 21,416
Regular Decision vs Early Action Acceptance Rates
Historical Acceptance Rates
California Polytechnic State University's acceptance rate for the application year 2024 stands at 31.2%, with 68,604 applicants and 21,416 students accepted. This marks an increase from 29.7% in 2023, where 63,955 students applied, resulting in 18,964 admissions. The acceptance rate has seen fluctuations over the years, with a high of 59.8% in 2021 and a low of 28.2% in 2019. Notably, the overall trend indicates a tightening competitive landscape, with acceptance rates generally stabilizing between the high 20s and low 30s in recent years.
Wait List Acceptance Rate
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo's wait list acceptance rate for the application year 2024 stands at 41.6%, with 2,905 out of 6,988 wait-listed students accepted. This marks a dramatic increase in acceptance compared to the previous year, 2023, where only 193 out of 13,176 were admitted, resulting in a mere 1.4% acceptance rate. Similarly, in 2022, the acceptance rate was 3.3% with 345 students admitted from 10,233. The sharp rise in acceptance rates for 2024 highlights significant changes in the wait list dynamics at the university.
6988
Offered a Place
2905
Admitted
41.6%
Acceptance Rate
Transfer Acceptance Rate
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo has a transfer acceptance rate of 19.6% for the application year 2024, with 10,432 applicants and 2,040 accepted. This marks a significant increase from 10% in the previous year (2023), when 9,218 students applied and 1,950 were accepted. The acceptance rates have fluctuated in recent years, peaking at 19.8% for the class of 2026 and a low of 17.7% for the class of 2025. These figures indicate a competitive but improving trend for transfer admissions at Cal Poly.
Transfer Acceptance Rate
Total Applicants: 10,432
Accepted Applicants: 2,040
Domestic vs International Acceptance Rates
Scores
GPA
4.12
SAT
1240-1420
Math: 610-730
Reading: 610-710
ACT
28-33
Math: 27-35
English: 27-35
Reading: 29-35
Science: 26-33
Acceptances by Race
| Race | Applicants |
|---|---|
| Hispanic/Latino | 26.8% |
| Asian | 12.5% |
| White | 46.2% |
| Non-Resident Alien | 0.7% |
| Two or More Races | 9.12% |
| Race/Ethnicity Unknown | 3.7% |
| Black or African American | 0.89% |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.13% |
| American Indian/Alaskan Native | 0.11% |
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