by our College Data Analytics TeamFinancial aid in the form of loans, grants, work-study, and scholarships is one way colleges reduce the cost of attendance so most students can actually afford to attend.
What financial aid options does Cal Poly San Luis Obispo offer, and what will you qualify for? Keep scrolling for answers.
$8,045.00 is the typical California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo’s first year financial aid package. 64% of first-year students are awarded financial aid, primarily comprising grants and scholarships.
Financial aid helps reduce the cost, or the full retail price of the college. However, be aware that the only true college discount is scholarships & grants.
Worried about the student loans that might be part of a financing offer? View the average amount of debt per student at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo.
Institutional scholarships and grants refer to financial aid provided directly by a college or university to support students in covering their educational expenses. These awards can be either merit-based or need-based and do not require repayment. Merit-based institutional scholarships reward students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievements, talents, or skills in specific areas. Such scholarships often take into account a student’s high school performance, standardized test scores, or extracurricular activities. On the other hand, need-based institutional grants are allocated to students who exhibit financial need. The amount awarded is usually determined by the student’s family’s financial circumstances and aims to cover the difference between the cost of attendance and the family’s capacity to pay. To assess eligibility for need-based grants, colleges and universities may use information from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or other financial aid forms. Institutional scholarships and grants play a crucial role in assisting students, as they can considerably lower the cost of college and make higher education more attainable.
The next numbers refer to grants and scholarships mainly supplied by the college itself.
43% of incoming freshmen (1965 total) were given scholarships at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo, averaging $4,063.00 per student. This puts it in the top 50th percentile among colleges and universities nationwide.
As well as scholarships, 15% of first-year students (669 total) got a federal grant, for about $5,537.00 per person.
The next table demonstrates grant and scholarship distributions by income level for freshmen getting any form of federally-funded Title IV aid, which includes Federal PLUS loans.
| Income Level | Percent of Freshman | Average Assistance |
|---|---|---|
| Income 0-30k | 5.24% | $16,754.00 |
| Income 30k-48k | 2.96% | $15,733.00 |
| Income 48k-75k | 4.11% | $11,587.00 |
| Income 75k-110k | 3.11% | $6,183.00 |
| Income 110k + | 4.87% | $1,187.00 |
The table above displays undergrads who are getting Title IV aid, federal aid from the government including loans, grants or work-study. Learn more here.
Of the 4602 undergraduate students at California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo around 64% (2455 total) receive some form of grant aid. The typical amount awarded was $8,045.00.
Check out the Tuition and Fees page or the Cost Per Credit Hour page to find out more.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.