Explore What We Do Best

At Cal Poly, you will put knowledge into action. The experience you will gain helps ensure that you are ready to take on whatever comes next — from everyday challenges to the world's most pressing problems.

Considering attending Cal Poly? Learn more about all we have to offer.

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Our core philosophy

Since 1901

Learn by Doing means that we don’t see a difference between the education we provide and the “real world.” Here, experiences are part of the curriculum. That’s because knowledge is inextricably linked to the world around us. To learn is to do. To do is to learn. At Cal Poly, each fuels the other.

Discover Learn by Doing

Students deploy tide and wave gauges on a pier

Our Impact

Cal Poly students, faculty and staff are constantly playing an active part in helping solve some of California’s — and the world’s — most complex challenges.

Image Stephan’s Quintet galaxies taken by the JWST. Image courtesy of NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI.

Peering into the Universe

One physics professor uses the James Webb Space Telescope to study supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies.

Explore New Galaxies

A student researcher wearing a mask holds a yellow reptile during a field study.

Confronting Climate Change

Two students leverage prestigious fellowships to study changes to plants and animals in California environments.

Meet Annie and Savannah

Three student leaders introduce sea animals in touch tanks to a group of high school students at the Cal Poly Pier.

Diving into Marine Science

Mustangs lead programs for Tulare County high schoolers learning about ocean environments and higher education opportunities.

Tour the Pier

Six Colleges, One Unifying Philosophy.

Cal Poly's six academic colleges offer more than 150 undergraduate majors and minors as well as over 50 graduate programs. Regardless of college, all of our programs emphasize hands-on learning and real-world experience in their curriculum.