Cal Poly is California’s most expensive public university. Here’s a guide to financial aid
After receiving notices of acceptance into Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, some may wonder how they are going to afford its “Learn by Doing” education.
Cal Poly has historically been the most expensive public university in California net financial aid, according to data from the school.
Other California State University and University of California campuses are able to afford, on average, offsetting a student’s tuition and fees by providing financial aid grants and scholarships.
But Cal Poly is the only state school with students, on average, needing to pay more than they are given.
For example, in-state tuition and fees for the 2019-20 academic year totaled to $9,943, while the university was only able to grant an average of about $6,996 in aid to students. That means a typical in-state student had to pay $2,947 in tuition in fees to attend Cal Poly.
After a student receives their notice of acceptance into Cal Poly, Terrance Harris, the university’s vice president of strategic enrollment management, said they should look out for another note in their My Cal Poly portal or email inbox indicating any scholarships they may have been granted.
“The majority of students would simply, by applying to the institution, be considered for scholarships,” Harris said. “There’s not a separate application. ... We do that as a way of trying to limit eliminate hurdles or barriers for students to be considered for scholarships.”
Those scholarships are in-house, Cal Poly-specific money that students can receive that don’t require repayment. The university offers them on a university-wide and college-based level.
“They come from many sources and can be based on academic achievement, athletic ability, geographical location, departmental and community involvement, areas of study, financial need as well as other factors,” the university’s scholarship website says.
Low-income students may also be considered for certain programs such as Cal Poly Scholars upon admission to the university, which provides funds to fully offset the cost of fees.
Students seeking additional funding help should have filled out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, application, Harris noted. That will open the door for federal and state government financial aid. The deadline to fill that form out was March 2.
However, the California Dream Act Application for state financial aid deadline that was originally March 2 has been extended to April 1 this year. That includes financial aid administered by the California Student Aid Commission, all of the Cal Grant programs and the Middle Class Scholarship Program, according to the commission’s website.
On its financial aid website, the university provides a guide to students seeking additional outside scholarships funded through the private sector, philanthropists or foundations.
This includes websites such as www.accessscholarships.com, www.careeronestop.org, www.college-scholarships.com and more. Should a student receive a scholarship from an outside source, they must notify Cal Poly’s financial aid office.
Other financial aid options include grants such as the State University Grant or Educational Opportunity Program. Those do not need to be repaid.
Additionally, students may qualify for a federal work-study program where they work a part-time job while earning their education. All federal work-study jobs are posted on the virtual Mustang Jobs board through the My Cal Poly Portal beginning Sept. 1, according to the university.
Federal loans, private loans and other loans for AB 540 students and emergency situations also are available for students who need to borrow money to pay for their education.
More information about financial aid can be found on Cal Poly’s website at calpoly.edu/financial-aid/types-of-aid.
This story was originally published March 25, 2022 at 9:00 AM.
