Explore What We do Best

At Cal Poly, you will put knowledge into action. The experience you will gain will help ensure that you will be ready to take on whatever comes next — from everyday challenges to the world's most pressing problems.

Considering attending Cal Poly in the future? We have put together tools for you to learn more about what we have to offer.

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Our core philosophy

Since 1901

Learn by Doing means that we don’t see a difference between the education we provide and the “real world.” Here, experiences are part of the curriculum. That’s because knowledge is inextricably linked to the world around us. To learn is to do. To do is to learn. At Cal Poly, each fuels the other.

Discover Learn by Doing

Student looks at a computer during a research project studying skeletal muscle progenitor cell

Our Impact

Cal Poly students, faculty and staff are constantly playing an active part in helping solve some of California’s — and the world’s — most complex challenges.

A professor wearing a mask demonstrates a chemistry experiment to a student in a lab

Fighting Deadly Diseases

Cal Poly researchers attempt to discover potential treatments for two terrifying diseases — Ebola and Anthrax.

See What They are Doing

Students takes measurements in a solar field.

Improving Renewable Energy

A team of engineering students research ways to better predict power output for different solar tracking settings — and generate more power for campus over time.

Read Their Story

A tractor drives through an agricultural field

Strengthening Food Supply

A student start-up is developing technology to help grow food more efficiently and strengthen global food supply.

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Six Colleges, One Unifying Philosophy.

Cal Poly's six academic colleges offer more than 150 undergraduate majors and minors as well as over 50 graduate programs. Regardless of college, all of our programs emphasize hands-on learning and real-world experience in their curriculum.