Learn by Doing ensures you play an active role in helping solve some of California’s — and the world’s — most complex challenges: climate change, tech and humanity, space, the built environment, food and wine, and entrepreneurship, to name just a few.

We select some of the best and brightest students in California and around the world to join the Cal Poly family. Choose your status and learn more about what it takes to become a Mustang.

Capping it All Off. Cal Poly first required seniors to complete a capstone project in 1940, placing even greater emphasis on Learn by Doing. Today, your project might take the form of scholarly research, an industry partnership, a public performance or business start-up.

Centered In / Central to California. California leads the nation in the number of Fortune 1000 companies that call the state home and is a world leader in a wide range of industries: food and wine, space, entrepreneurship, climate, the built environment, and tech and humanity.

Visit the University. Welcome to Cal Poly! Whether you're thinking about attending, are a proud graduate, prospective employee or part of the local community, we invite you to visit.

The right university will offer you resources, opportunities and a place to explore your passions, develop your skills and prepare you for a successful career. It will provide a community where you feel inspired, supported and challenged to reach your full potential.

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Choosing the right school comes down to several factors — often, the biggest one is affordability. At Cal Poly, we believe that talent deserves opportunity.

Admission to Cal Poly is highly competitive. Beyond the basic California State University qualifications, Cal Poly considers other factors for admission deemed important to the campus and does so in an objective format. Review the selection criteria for undergraduate applicants by starting here: Cal Poly Admissions.

Non-Resident Tuition: In addition to in-state tuition and fees, non-California residents pay $280 per unit in non-resident tuition. The cost of attendance estimated above is based on an average unit load of 15 units per quarter.