California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Acceptance Rate
San Luis Obispo, California · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 63,736
- Admitted
- 18,964
- Yield
- 27.8%
- Test policy
- Test-blind
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's acceptance rate has fallen from 30.9% in 2014–15 to 29.8% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 43,812 to 63,736 (+45%) over that period.
Its 29.8% rate makes California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo more selective than about 93% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 84 tracked California schools, it is more selective than about 80%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (35.1% for women vs 24.3% for men, a 10.8-point gap). California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has been test-blind (scores not considered) since 2021–22. Of admitted students, 27.8% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 43,812 | 13,533 | 30.9% | 4,662 |
| 2015–16 | 46,820 | 14,651 | 31.3% | 4,943 |
| 2016–17 | 48,162 | 14,202 | 29.5% | 4,341 |
| 2017–18 | 48,588 | 16,817 | 34.6% | 5,253 |
| 2018–19 | 54,663 | 16,491 | 30.2% | 4,398 |
| 2019–20 | 54,072 | 15,366 | 28.4% | 4,613 |
| 2020–21 | 52,371 | 20,127 | 38.4% | 4,789 |
| 2021–22 | 54,570 | 18,008 | 33% | 4,884 |
| 2022–23 | 58,774 | 17,885 | 30.4% | 5,110 |
| 2023–24 | 63,736 | 18,964 | 29.8% | 5,278 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 32,014 | 11,241 | 35.1% |
| Men | 31,722 | 7,723 | 24.3% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-blind (not considered).
How California Polytechnic State compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's acceptance rate?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's acceptance rate is 29.8% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (18,964 admitted of 63,736 applicants).
Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo test optional?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo is test-blind: SAT/ACT scores are not considered in admission.
How many people apply to California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo received 63,736 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 18,964.
Is California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo getting harder to get into?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 30.9% in 2014–15 to 29.8% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: calpoly.edu/.