Top Ranked Programs
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's program mix is anchored in Engineering, with strong representation in business and agriculture — a portfolio shaped by the university's polytechnic, learn-by-doing identity. Business Administration is the largest program with 753 graduates, followed by Mechanical Engineering (272 graduates), Architectural Sciences and Technology (180 graduates), Animal Sciences (165 graduates), and Computer Science (163 graduates). Engineering accounts for 23% of degree output, Business for 18%, and Social Sciences for 5%, reflecting a concentration in applied, workforce-aligned fields. The strongest national rankings cluster in engineering and computing subfields. Azimuth ranks Computer Science #24 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 163 graduates earning $154,784. Azimuth ranks Computer Engineering #11 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $148,950. Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering also stands out — Azimuth ranks it #11 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 136 graduates earning $125,240. On the business side, Azimuth ranks Animal Sciences #8 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $54,805, and Azimuth ranks Computer Science #24 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning $154,784. The combination of cohort scale and strong pay in Business Administration — the program combining the largest enrollment with competitive earnings — makes it a central driver of the institution's overall return profile, as described in [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). The majority of Cal Poly's top-performing programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly — particularly in engineering, computer science, and business fields where four-year earnings closely reflect labor-market outcomes. Agriculture-related programs add a distinctive applied dimension less common at peer polytechnics. The [supply-demand map for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these applied STEM and business fields align with national employer demand. ```