California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Reviews

"Cal Poly SLO was the perfect school for me. The professors had a genuine interest in what they taught and really cared about their students and their success.I really enjoyed that right from the start, my 1st day of college, I was already taking major related courses, which is not common in other schools. I also liked how hands-on all the work I did was. The projects were realistics and I felt like every project I worked on helped me succeed post graduation."

"Cal Poly was always my absolute dream school, and when I was accepted, my entire life changed. I love the 'Learn By Doing' mentality and all of the hands-on learning experiences I had, especially through my major. My classes were difficult, but always made me feel so accomplished afterward. My professors were extremely knowledgeable and truly cared about their students, and I always felt like I had made the very best decision to choose Cal Poly. San Luis Obispo is also just such an incredible town to live in and the perfect place to have spent my four years of undergrad.Read Less"

"I really enjoyed my time at Cal Poly as an Animal Science Major. Unfortunately, my college career was interrupted by the COVID Pandemic which certainly impacted my time. My degree was designed in such a way that remote learning was a very large step back from what I expected. This was obviously out of the scope of the university and entirely unprecedented. However, during my time on campus I learned so much and had incredible hands on opportunities that I really doubt I would have gotten elsewhere. While I ended up not pursuing a career in a directly degree related field, the time and experience I was able to have in both lab and fieldwork settings has been instrumental in. my career success since graduating.Read Less"

"Cal Poly SLO was an absolutely incredible school to attend. I went there for 4 years in undergrad for mathematics and then a grad school year for business analytics. The Learn by Doing philosophy is really effective in helping educate students and becoming the most prepared they can be for their careers. The campus is truly stunning and how can one not love the year-round amazing weather in California? SLO is close to the beach, the mountains, and within easy driving distance of major cities like San Francisco and LA, making it so easy to go on tons of weekend adventures throughout your time there. Students here are driven but down-to-earth, collaborative rather than competitive, and always ready to help each other succeed. Clubs, events, and campus organizations make it incredibly easy to find your place and build lifelong friendships.Cal Poly gave me real-world experience, a strong academic foundation, and a community I’ll always feel connected to. I can't recommend Cal Poly SLO enough.Read Less"

"Masters in Public Policy is not worth the time or money. The only consistency in the program is the faculty turnover and their inability to connect students with meaningful research and/or internships. There are more Cal Poly employees completing the program, therefore, students learn about complaints with union negotiations and complaints about university administration. Only program on that campus requiring both a “research project” (a thesis without the review because they can’t keep faculty) and a comprehensive exam.Read Less"

"While it has been a while since I completed my undergraduate studies - I still can confidently say that Cal Poly's "Learn By Doing" motto prepared me for my career! My career unfolded in a rather unconventional manner - with one opportunity leading me to the next. I took the opportunities, learned by doing and have had a successful career as an educator and am now looking to move into Educational Administration. I loved the Kinesiology coursework and still draw on my experience in the human performance labs when working with my students today.Read Less"

"I completed my bachelor's degree at CP SLO and highly recommend it. Though there are a variety of majors available, the majority seem to be studying Engineering, Architecture or Business. That being said, I think they have an excellent Child Development program and many of my friends from a variety of majors said they thought their education was crucial to their future successes. Personally, I loved the learn by doing motto and think it's helped me put into practice what I learned rather than just knowing a lot of information. In addition, I felt that the professors at the school are more student-focused then at many universities because they don't have the same pressure to publish research. This allows them to spend more time preparing for classes, keeps the class sizes small and means that the professors are able to focus on completing high-quality research rather than just high-quantity. My biggest disappointment with the school was the lack of diversity often evident when walking around campus. Many students find it difficult to switch majors, though it is possible, so I don't suggest attending school there if you aren't sure what you want to study.Read Less"

"Cal Poly's Biology department has great mentorship and teaching. The school chooses professors who want to teach, and do some research, but mainly focus on teaching. As such, the teaching is outstanding, and the research is below average. However, the department is very active in helping students find a project, or create a project."

"Cal Poly SLO is a learn by doing campus. The skills and knowledge I acquired through applying what I learned in the classroom gave me an advantage when starting my career. The senior project requirement was useful in proving my expertise to employers. Several senior projects have been turned into business ventures after graduation. The school is in beautiful San Luis Obispo, California. The school experience was made even better with hiking in the local mountains, spending time at the nearby beaches, and fishing or camping at nearby lakes. As a single mom attending school, I also appreciated the student childcare center. Parking is an issue as is the cost of housing however, this is typical of a school in a desired geographic location. Teachers are accessible and classes not too large. I made lifelong friends during my time in San Luis Obispo and miss the local food and activities. I would recommend this school to anyone pursuing a degree in animal science, engineering, business, architecture, or the health professions.Read Less"

"Cal Poly, SLO is a beautiful campus located in a beautiful city. I write this review as a first generation latina student, and about my experience there. As a minority, I realized that Cal Poly did not do enough to help out students of color or staff of color; this led many staff and students of color to transfer out to new schools or jobs. This made life as a student of color there a little harder as representation diminished. However, the remaining students of color or marginalized communities were very active and vocal about these issues, pushing for changes from the administration. While it was hard being a student of color, it really taught me how to use my voice to help my community and push for change. It turned me into a leader and taught me the importance of activism. I wouldn't say Cal Poly is the worst, but it is very white, which makes it hard for students of color to feel like they fit in. Nonetheless, I recommend that you visit campus, attend spring orientation and Poly Cultural Weekend so that you can see and decide for yourself. One thing I would say is a major positive is the on campus community. Most of the students either live on campus or within a short distance, so there is always a lot of activity on campus. This makes is so great to be on campus at all times. Also the food bank is an amazing resource for students struggling with food insecurity.Read Less"

"I went to school for Civil Engineering at Cal Poly and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The school is gorgeous and only 15 minutes from the beach (you will not go as much as you think you will though). The campus is a little spread out and on lots of hills so you will definitely get your steps in when going to class. Most students live on campus the first year and then life just of campus after that. It's not a necessity that you own a car, but it is really nice to know someone who does. Greek life and sports teams exist but are not a very big deal outside of the Cal Poly vs. UCSB soccer game, but there is a club for just about everything. The engineering school is one of the best bangs for your buck in the country. Cal Poly keeps the California State pricing but offers a bachelors degree that can compete with anyone in the nation. Most of the teachers I had were very knowledgeable and the classes are extremely competitive as Cal Poly only lets in the best of the best. Also pretty much everyone I knew in the engineering school landed a job extremely quickly out of college. I was able to find a job a couple months after college and have been working in for the last five years. Overall really great college and extremely competitive prices for the level of education you receive.Read Less"

"I really hated the administration/corporation that ran the school. Like most other schools, they try to squeeze out money from students instead of making fair costs. Examples include packing in freshmen into the dorms (3 students in a double room dorm), overpricing their generic food, the book store costs are terrible and yet classes force you to buy from them. Most of the academics are run of the mill like other campuses. The pros are a nice location and weather, many laboratories for hands on learning, and quality upper division teachers.Read Less"

"Cal Poly was an average college experience for me. The upsides being that it was close to the beach and had good weather. For general electives, the psychology lecture was the most insightful and interesting class. The chemistry and math classes were pretty bad in that the motto changed from learn by doing to Figure it out yourself, poor instruction, large classes, and lots of my friends failed because of trouble getting direct help from teachers or peers. The major specific courses had much better instruction and lab teaching. I would HIGHLY recommend transferring to this school, but completing lowers division coursework elsewhere. It will save you lots of time and money. The freshman/sophomore experience here doesnt not compare to what Ive heard many other UC and state schools have in terms of sporting events, parties, fun city-life, and diversity (very undiversified crowd and culture). Overall my recommendation is to apply to this school only if you plan on engineering AND have a high enough budget to meet its cost. AND it would be most valuable to go only after earning lower division credits to transfer in so you avoid wasting the first two years of tuition and cut your college cost in half.Read Less"

"Great school program! The learn by doing philosophy has set me above many of my peers who attended other universities thanks to the hands on experiences I gained while at University. I am a proud alumni of Cal Poly and would encourage other students to enroll as well. Take full advantage of the many benefits available to you as students including clubs, student research projects, and so much more that give you the advantage when searching for careers. Cal Poly is an amazing university that supports its students and provides an ideal environment for learning.Read Less"

"Cal Poly's "Learn By Doing" philosophy is implemented in every class and every program. It is a great way to learn, because a lot of universities or programs who just lecture or don't have hands on programs make it hard for students to transition into the real world. Cal Poly is very good at preparing you for your future career and letting you know what to expect. The campus community is great and you will definitely graduate with life long friends."

"Cal Poly is a great place to receive an education. I easily got out in four years and had so many great teachers. Small class sizes create a comfortable learning environment for students to interact with each other and their professors. Many of my professors were always willing to answer any questions I had and help to make me as successful as possible."

"Cal Poly is an excellent learn-by-doing university with a strong comprehensive program for both undergraduates and graduates. I appreciated the attention teachers gave me in both lab and lecture and highly recommend it to those applying to both undergraduate and graduate school."

"Cal Poly SLO has prepared me for a career in dentistry. I have recently been accepted into a dental program where I will earn a doctorate degree. The faculty at Cal Poly is extremely professional and will steer you towards your future goals. Any student looking for an affordable education will find it at Cal Poly SLO."

"It provided hands on learning opportunities."

"The Child and Adolescent Development program did an amazing job of preparing their students for real-life experiences. The degree itself integrated field work that was applicable to many students in the program. I found jobs throughout my time in college that were applicable to my degree and immediately after graduation. The professors in the department were all willing to help and get you through the program by allowing you to learn the necessary material as you went up each consecutive year into major-specific classes. Advisers helped tremendously by guiding you through your audits - for courses - and preparing you to graduate on time. All in all, the department of child and adolescent development were a great asset to my success.Read Less"