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get to know cal poly

Whatever you are learning, we believe you learn it best when you do it for yourself.

At Cal Poly, you’ll put knowledge into action. You’ll come together with people from different backgrounds to pursue better solutions across disciplines and boundaries. And you’ll ready yourself to take on whatever comes next – from everyday challenges to the world’s most pressing problems.

how we learn

Our Learn by Doing philosophy sets us apart from other colleges and universities. Your classes will actively engage you with hands-on, real-world experiences building both your knowledge and your skill and transforming you into a proactive, whole-systems thinker.

 Explore Learn by Doing

Students weigh a dog during a veterinary clinic.

Making an Impact

Play an active role in helping solve some of California’s — and the world’s — most complex challenges. 

Two people in white coats and hard hats inspect a white payload vessel with NASA logo on the front inside the Virgin Orbit facility.

Exploring Space

Cal Poly’s 12th cubesat reaches orbit in a novel way — from a 747 flying at 35,000 feet.

Explore their mission
An offshore wind farm.

Confronting the Climate Crisis

Cal Poly researchers look for solutions for the climate crisis by studying the ocean and the impacts, challenges and benefits of offshore wind energy.

Discover their research
The Jada device helps the uterus perform its natural function after childbirth.

Saving Mother's Lives

A former student's senior project to treat postpartum hemorrhaging receives clearance by the Food and Drug Administration. 

Learn more about the project

Explore Our Majors

Cal Poly's six academic colleges offer more than 60 majors for you to consider.

We require students to declare a major as part of the application process in order to maximize their experience in their chosen field from Day One. While changing your major may be possible, we recommend you explore majors thoroughly before making your choice.

how we live

Exploring every angle is essential to who we are. That applies not only to your classwork, but also to the perspectives of people we meet and the activities we do. We want to give you the opportunity to explore this diverse world, embrace new ideas, make new friends and discover new interests.

Looking into the inside of a common room in the yakʔitʸutʸu residential community at night.

Housing and Dining

Along with becoming a part of an active and supportive community, living on campus will give you easy access to all of the delicious options in our brand-new dining complex.

SLO GLO, a student glow-in-the-dark flow arts club, practices their art on the beach.

Clubs and Organizations

You have passions that fuel and enhance your life. We have over 400 student clubs and organizations to help you indulge them.

A tennis player holds a racket and celebrates a shot taken.

Athletics and Recreation

From competitive sports to our world-class rec center to access to the great outdoors, there are many opportunities to play as hard as you work.

The world is diverse. We want to make sure our campus reflects that and is a safe space for you to be yourself and connect with others.

Cultural Resources

where we go

All the hands-on opportunities you’ll have throughout your years at Cal Poly will add up to a level of experience that will be unmatched by your peers  — and in high demand by employers. Learn by Doing makes sure that when you graduate, you’ll be a resourceful and innovative professional, prepared to take the lead in discovering solutions yourself.

When I first arrived at Cal Poly I thought that Learn by Doing was merely a catchy motto. I quickly learned that it is what sets our students apart. Cal Poly helped me learn to network, build relationships and effectively communicate. After my second year, I became a Global Security intern for Tesla and after my third year, a Finance intern at Apple. These opportunities presented themselves because of the relationships and skills Learn by Doing taught me.  

Madison Boyd

Business Administration '20

Madison Boyd graduated magna cum laude with a major of Business Administration and a concentration in finance in March of 2020. During her Cal Poly career, she interned at both Tesla and Apple, where she now holds a full-time position.

Dig a little deeper

Can't get enough and looking for more? We got you covered. 

There are a ton of resources that can help you get to know the campus, speak with current students and learn more about the majors that interest you the most. Most importantly, you’ll get to see for yourself if Cal Poly is right for you. 

 

1

Schedule a

Visit

The best way to explore our campus is to see it for yourself. From campus tours, to information sessions, to connecting one-on-one with our staff or students, we have the resources to help you get to know us better — whether in-person or from the comfort of your own home. 

2

Follow us

On Social Media

Follow us on Instagram or YouTube to learn more about everyday life on campus, hear from our students and recent alumni, receive tips and tricks on completing our application, and more.

3

Sign-up for our

Email List

Want Cal Poly information sent right to your inbox? Sign-up for our email list and get the latest info on our programs, life on campus, how to apply and more. 

Ready to Apply? 

The application for the 2022-2023 school year opens on October 1. Choose your status and learn more about what it takes to become a Mustang.

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