Value

Less Expensive Than Many Peer Institutions

A Cal Poly education is a good investment, paying dividends for decades in terms of career potential and growth. The cost of attending our business graduate programs is less than many peer institutions, and we’re consistently ranked highly for return on investment.

Orfalea has been ranked the “Best in the West Public Masters University in the Western US” for 29 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Student Centric

Students Always Come First

At our school, students come first. From enrollment to graduation, our faculty and staff are deeply committed to seeing students succeed. Class sizes are small, cohorts are actively engaged, and courses are taught by professors who enthusiastically seek to partner with students on projects.

The student to faculty ratio at Cal Poly is 19:1, with 96% of our OCOB graduate-level classes having fewer than 30 students. Our small classes and our close-knit cohort-style programs, allow each student to be treated as an individual, and gives each student an opportunity to contribute individually as well.

Time To Complete

One Year Or Less

Time is money. For many graduate students, being out of the job market for too long doesn’t make economic sense. That’s why most all our master’s degrees can be completed in one year or less.

Unlike other university grad programs that can span 2-3 years, our intensive program approach allows students to jump back into their careers quickly.

Less time on campus means that our students can spend less on school-related living expenses over the course of their graduate program.

Location

Best of Both Worlds

Located midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo offers the best of both worlds. Students get an unparalleled academic experience and powerful career pathways, all while living in one of the California Central Coast’s most beautiful locations.

San Luis Obispo averages 287 days of sun per year, allowing for lots outdoor recreation like surfing and kayaking, or biking to class year-round. Or take a hike in the 6,500 acres of environmentally protected open space that surrounds the campus.

Enjoy relaxing day trips to nearby coastal spots, like the famous redwoods of Big Sur to the north, or popular Santa Barbara to the south. Downtown San Luis Obispo bustles with cafes and restaurants, craft beer breweries and a weekly nighttime farmers market.

With just under 50,000 residents, San Luis Obispo is community-oriented, safe and friendly, and was recently ranked the number one college town by College Rank.

Silicon Valley Ecosystem

Ties and Partnerships With Silicon Valley

We offer students a direct route into the Silicon Valley ecosystem, helping connect graduates to internships, training opportunities and jobs. Our ties and partnerships with Silicon Valley-based companies continue to grow year-after-year, as more of our graduates secure positions and look to hire fellow alumni.

Cal Poly is located just three hours south of Silicon Valley. This proximity makes it convenient for our students and graduates to connect with top companies and industries there. Our students are heavily recruited by Silicon Valley companies along with many firms throughout California and beyond.

Silicon Valley executives serve on many of Cal Poly advisory boards and have a vested interest in assuring our graduates’ skills meet the ever-changing needs of today’s business world.