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California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

⌖ San Luis Obispo, CA · 67 reportable field-and-credential outcomes

MODELED SCENARIO · Positive payoff

+$197,470 over 10 years

Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.

This is a positive modeled result. Price, time to finish and future earnings can still change the outcome.

5.6 yrsModeled economic break-even
+80%Modeled 10-year ROI
$89,413Observed earnings · year 5
Economic ROI includes direct price and earnings forgone during study · $45,000 comparison earnings · values held flat · see the formula
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK

Estimated payoff over ten years.

The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.

10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
+$197,470at year 10
Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
−$246,6600
2
4
6
8
+$197,47010
Years after graduationBreak-even: 5.6 years
FEDERAL COST DATA

Four ways to read college price.

Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.

Published in-state tuition$13,596
Sticker price
Published out-of-state tuition$34,665
Sticker price
Average net price$16,665
Title IV student average
Cost of attendance$32,265
Tuition + living budget
PRICE SOURCECollege reported · annual amount · federal dataset
OBSERVED FEDERAL MEASURES

Cost, completion and earnings context

$16,665Average net price / year
$32,265Cost of attendance
$89,413Median earnings · year 5 after completion
86.4%Completion rate
31.3%Admission rate
21,996Student size
NATIONAL CONTEXT

How this college compares

Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.

97thEarnings percentile
89thCompletion percentile
EARNINGS PATH

Reported earnings over time

$62,831Year 1
$90,662Year 4
$89,413Year 5

Separate federal cohorts may underlie different measurement years.

PROGRAM PAYOFF SPREAD

The college average is not the whole story.

Observed earnings vary substantially by field and credential at the same institution.

1Computer Science · Master's Degree$235,2412Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering · Master's Degree$158,9773Computer Science · Bachelor's Degree$154,7844Computer Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$148,9505Accounting and Related Services · Master's Degree$134,1056Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering · Master's Degree$132,7207Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods · Master's Degree$131,4488Mechanical Engineering · Master's Degree$127,908

Observed year-4 earnings · compare like fields and credentials before deciding

BUILD A REAL SHORTLIST

Comparable colleges in CA

Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive—not a quality ranking.

La Jolla, CA

University of California, San Diego

Annual net price
$12,470
Observed earnings · year 5
$84,593
Modeled 10-year ROI
+72%
Open college profile →Berkeley, CA

University of California, Berkeley

Annual net price
$13,481
Observed earnings · year 5
$95,520
Modeled 10-year ROI
+116%
Open college profile →San Jose, CA

San Jose State University

Annual net price
$13,760
Observed earnings · year 5
$80,832
Modeled 10-year ROI
+52%
Open college profile →Los Angeles, CA

University of California, Los Angeles

Annual net price
$12,548
Observed earnings · year 5
$77,498
Modeled 10-year ROI
+41%
Open college profile →
ALL REPORTABLE PROGRAM CATEGORIES

Explore exact field-and-credential outcomes

Federal fieldCredentialEarnings, year 4Federal debt
Computer ScienceMaster's Degree$235,241Not available
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringMaster's Degree$158,977Not available
Computer ScienceBachelor's Degree$154,784$19,298
Computer EngineeringBachelor's Degree$148,950$20,556
Accounting and Related ServicesMaster's Degree$134,105Not available
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space EngineeringMaster's Degree$132,720Not available
Management Sciences and Quantitative MethodsMaster's Degree$131,448Not available
Mechanical EngineeringMaster's Degree$127,908Not available
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications EngineeringBachelor's Degree$125,240$24,449
Construction ManagementBachelor's Degree$118,331$18,955
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringMaster's Degree$113,572Not available
Industrial EngineeringBachelor's Degree$112,797$19,691
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBachelor's Degree$110,902$17,000
Biomedical/Medical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$109,232$20,500
Business Administration, Management and OperationsMaster's Degree$108,148Not available
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space EngineeringBachelor's Degree$107,498$22,500
Mechanical EngineeringBachelor's Degree$106,750$20,500
Civil EngineeringMaster's Degree$106,004Not available
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject AreasMaster's Degree$104,117Not available
Environmental/Environmental Health EngineeringBachelor's Degree$102,702$20,500
StatisticsBachelor's Degree$101,353$17,939
Civil EngineeringBachelor's Degree$101,072$20,424
Materials EngineeringBachelor's Degree$100,599$17,000
EconomicsBachelor's Degree$98,927$18,500
PhilosophyBachelor's Degree$98,592Not available
PhysicsBachelor's Degree$96,805$23,000
Architectural EngineeringBachelor's Degree$92,767$25,116
Agricultural EngineeringBachelor's Degree$92,603$16,420
City/Urban, Community, and Regional PlanningMaster's Degree$89,909Not available
Industrial Production Technologies/TechniciansBachelor's Degree$89,195$18,250
Agricultural Business and ManagementBachelor's Degree$88,396$14,500
Agriculture, GeneralBachelor's Degree$84,412$21,903
MathematicsBachelor's Degree$83,187$16,718
Plant SciencesBachelor's Degree$82,487$16,666
Political Science and GovernmentBachelor's Degree$81,843$17,665
Agricultural Public ServicesBachelor's Degree$80,965Not available
City/Urban, Community, and Regional PlanningBachelor's Degree$80,820$18,167
Education, GeneralMaster's Degree$79,570Not available
Graphic CommunicationsBachelor's Degree$79,432$17,961
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyBachelor's Degree$78,097$17,500
Agricultural MechanizationBachelor's Degree$78,080Not available
ForestryBachelor's Degree$77,419$17,000
ArchitectureBachelor's Degree$76,613$27,500
Food Science and TechnologyBachelor's Degree$75,466$20,654
Communication and Media StudiesBachelor's Degree$75,223$14,928
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure StudiesBachelor's Degree$75,181$16,369
JournalismBachelor's Degree$70,829$19,333
SociologyBachelor's Degree$69,883$16,750
Biology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$69,854$22,949
Psychology, GeneralMaster's Degree$69,419Not available
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesBachelor's Degree$69,227$15,000
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and PolicyBachelor's Degree$68,965$20,000
Nutrition SciencesBachelor's Degree$68,930$17,620
Landscape ArchitectureBachelor's Degree$68,795$22,433
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesBachelor's Degree$68,171$17,500
HistoryBachelor's Degree$66,518$17,627
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree$64,579$16,666
ChemistryBachelor's Degree$63,882$15,259
English Language and Literature, GeneralBachelor's Degree$63,413$23,956
Psychology, GeneralBachelor's Degree$60,466$20,000
Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree$59,721$19,198
Social Sciences, OtherBachelor's Degree$57,360$17,000
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsBachelor's Degree$55,543$18,090
Animal SciencesBachelor's Degree$54,805$20,500
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftBachelor's Degree$36,697Not available
Architectural Sciences and TechnologyBachelor's DegreeNot available$23,500
Microbiological Sciences and ImmunologyBachelor's DegreeNot available$22,138

Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.