The Cal Poly Partnership
Each year, we admit the some of the best and brightest to the incoming class. We'd like you to be among them.
The Partner School Program
Partner Schools like yours are carefully selected based on specific criteria, with a primary focus on serving a majority of first-generation and economically disadvantaged students. Through this collaboration, high-achieving students like you gain access to scholarships and financial aid guidance, academic and career services, and various programs to foster your college success.
Partner Benefits
Partner school students who meet the minimum California State University admission requirements and are academically competitive may receive additional admission consideration. In addition, our partner schools receive:
- A designated representative to answer questions and guide you through the admissions process. They also serve as your school's liaison for outreach activities, school visits and other activities.
- Scholarship and other funding opportunities.
- Priority status to attend on-campus outreach events.
- Networking and community-building opportunities with other partner school students.
- Contact the admissions office to ask questions or to schedule a virtual or in-person visit.
Academic Resources
Cal Poly Scholars
Cal Poly Scholars provides financial, academic, and community support to high-achieving students from California schools. Scholars receive a renewable, annual scholarship that covers the cost of institutional fees as well as their own residential learning community, a technology credit, peer-to-peer mentorship, waived orientation fees, access to career and life skills workshops and more. No need to apply to Cal Poly Scholars, you'll automatically be considered for the program if accepted to Cal Poly from a partner school.
Educational Opportunity Program
This program (known as EOP) encourages success, community and empowerment to eligible students. Services include counseling, workshops, transitional programs, financial aid, community and study spaces and more.
Mustang Mentorship Program
Meet regularly with a current Cal Poly student with similar interests/identities throughout your senior year. Partner school juniors with a 3.5 or higher GPA can apply. Participation doesn't guarantee admission but is a great way to get to know Cal Poly.
TRIO Achievers
The TRIO Achievers program provides services including academic advising, tutoring, career services, help with financial aid concerns, workshops, and help understanding academic policies and procedures to eligible students.
Scholarships
You will be automatically considered for scholarships when you apply for financial aid. As a partner school student, you are given priority for both need-based and merit scholarships.
This merit-based scholarship is awarded to selected partner school students. Amounts vary from $600 to $6,000.
This merit-based $3,000 scholarship is available to partner students.
Also merit-based, this $1,500 scholarship is available to partner students.
RaiseMe is a micro-scholarship platform that gives you opportunities to earn up to $2,400 to put toward your college education. By creating an account as yearly as 9th grade, you can begin earning funds for college.
How to Earn RaiseMe funds
- Get an 'A' in a core course
- Take a college-level course, an AP/IB course, or an honors, advance, pre-AP, or pre-IB course
- Hold a leadership position in a club or organization or complete community service hours
- Participate in sports and other extracurricular activities
- Going on a campus tour or attend an information session (in person or virtual)
- Referrals and test scores
Visit our YouTube channel for resources and tips to complete your FAFSA or California Dream Act applications. Financial aid awards, including scholarships, will be shown in your Cal Poly Portal once they've been processed.
Applying to Cal Poly
Application Process
Learn more about the application process including timing as well as declaring a major, a requirement we have on our application.
Selection Criteria
Our selection process considers many factors for admission including your intended major, coursework, GPA, extracurriculars and more.
Application Resources
We have compiled a variety of guides, tips and workshops to help make the application process that much easier.