California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Former name | California Polytechnic School (1901–1947), California Polytechnic State College (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 | $296.45 million (2024) |
| President | Jeffrey D. Armstrong |
| Provost | Al Liddicoat (interim) |
Academic staff | 1,600 (fall 2025) |
Administrative staff | 1,827 (fall 2025) |
| Undergraduates | 22,313 (fall 2025) |
| Postgraduates | 932 (fall 2025) |
| Location | , 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) 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 2025, Cal Poly had approximately 22,000 undergraduate and 900 graduate students.
The university is home to several programs, including in engineering, architecture, and business. Most of the university's athletic teams participate in the Big West Conference.