Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo celebrated the Class of 2025 with commencement ceremonies the weekend of June 14, 2025. The university’s six colleges had a total of 6,821 graduates
Laura Dickinson
ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
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Cal Poly plans to award diplomas to a record-setting 6,821 students during six commencement ceremonies in San Luis Obispo this weekend.
“Cal Poly’s mission has always been to ensure students are Ready Day One, and that day has arrived,” Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong said in a university news release ahead of graduation weekend. “This year’s graduates have met challenges, pushed boundaries and achieved incredible milestones. We are excited to see all that they accomplish.”
On Saturday, the university held separate ceremonies in Spanos Stadium for the Orfalea College of Business, Philip and Christina Bailey College of Science and Mathematics and the College of Liberal Arts.
Ceremonies for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences; the College of Architecture and Environmental Design; and the College of Engineering were set on Sunday.
Over 53,000 guests were expected across all the ceremonies, the university said.
Cal Poly expected to award 5,980 undergraduate degrees and 841 graduate degrees.
The College of Engineering was expected to give out the most degrees — a total of 1,956 during its ceremony on Saturday. This total included 1,585 undergraduate degrees and 371 graduate degrees.
According to the release, Cal Poly is awarding two honorary degrees during the ceremonies: one to NASA astronaut and Cal Poly alum Victor Jerome Glover II and another one to bestselling author and technology pioneer John Couch.
Glover’s honorary doctor of science degree comes from the College of Engineering and Couch’s honorary doctor of humane letters is from the Orfalea College of Business.
Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo celebrated the Class of 2025 with commencement ceremonies the weekend of June 14, 2025. The university’s six colleges had a total of 6,821 graduates. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo celebrated the Class of 2025 with commencement ceremonies the weekend of June 14, 2025. The university’s six colleges had a total of 6,821 graduates. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Several graduating students walked down the ramp with a child in their arms. Terri Valencia holds 1-year-old Benson Mendoza. Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo celebrated the Class of 2025 with commencement ceremonies the weekend of June 14, 2025. The university’s six colleges had a total of 6,821 graduates. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Several graduating students held a child in their arms. Caleb Sandberg holds his son 1-year-old Ezra. Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo celebrated the Class of 2025 with commencement ceremonies the weekend of June 14, 2025. The university’s six colleges had a total of 6,821 graduates. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
New graduates pose for a photo op are from left, Ashley Hiraki, Sarah Jacobson and Melissa Paich. Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo celebrated the Class of 2025 with commencement ceremonies the weekend of June 14, 2025. The university’s six colleges had a total of 6,821 graduates. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
This story was originally published June 14, 2025 at 3:31 PM.
Leila Touati is a reporter for The Tribune. She covers business and change in SLO County communities. She is from the Bay Area and finishing her journalism degree at Cal Poly. In her free time, Leila enjoys coding and baking.
