California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Former name | California Polytechnic School (1901–1947), California Polytechnic State College--San Luis Obispo (1947–1972) |
|---|---|
| Motto | Discere Faciendo (Latin) |
Motto in English | "Learn by Doing" |
| Type | Public polytechnic university |
| Established | March 8, 1901 |
Parent institution | California State University |
| Accreditation | WSCUC |
Academic affiliations | Space-grant |
| Endowment | $285.3 million (2022–23) |
| President | Jeffrey D. Armstrong |
| Provost | Al Liddicoat (interim) |
Academic staff | 1,469 (fall 2023) |
Administrative staff | 1,630 (fall 2023) |
| Undergraduates | 21,947 (fall 2024) |
| Postgraduates | 895 (fall 2024) |
| Location | San Luis Obispo postal address , , United States |
| Campus | Small suburb, 9,678 acres (3,917 ha) total; 1,321 acres (535 ha) main campus; 155 acres (63 ha) campus core |
| Newspapers | Mustang News, Cal Poly News |
| Colors | Green and Gold |
| Nickname | Mustangs |
Sporting affiliations | |
| Mascots |
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| Website | www |
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly San Luis Obispo or Cal Poly) is a public university in San Luis Obispo County, California, United States, outside of the city limits of San Luis Obispo. Founded in 1901, it is the oldest of three polytechnic universities within the California State University system. Cal Poly emphasizes a "learn by doing" philosophy, integrating hands-on, practical experiences into its curriculum. As of fall 2022, Cal Poly had approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 800 graduate students.
The university is home to several programs, including in engineering, architecture, and business. It houses the College of Engineering and the Orfalea College of Business. Most of the university's athletic teams participate in the Big West Conference.