Cost of Attendance
Welcome to the Cost of Attendance guide for Cal Poly’s military-connected community. Understanding the financial landscape of your education is essential for planning your future. Below, you will find the 2025-26 tuition rates for our SLO and Maritime campuses, critical payment deadlines, and a breakdown of housing and dining fees.
Need help with your specific benefits? Schedule an appointment or use our Virtual Center Drop-in for one-on-one assistance.
Note: While the Net Price Calculator is a helpful tool, military benefits may not always factor in correctly. Please consult our individual benefit pages for the most accurate estimates.
| COST OF REGISTERING FOR CLASSES, PER SEMESTER - New In-State Undergraduates Starting Fall 2026 | State: Tuition & Mandatory Fees (per semester) | Campus-Based Fees (per semester) | Medical Insurance (Solano Campus Only, amt expected to increase in Spring 2027) | = | Total Registration Cost (per semester) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campus: San Luis Obispo | Colleges of Engineering, Architecture or Agriculture | $3,419 | $4,441 | included | = | $7,860 |
| College of Science and Math, College of Business, College of Liberal Arts | $3,419 | $3,922 | included | = | $7,341 | |
| Campus: Solano | Colleges of Engineering, Architecture or Agriculture | $3,419 | $4,441 | $730 | = | $8,590 |
| College of Science and Math, College of Business, College of Liberal Arts | $3,419 | $3,922 | $730 | = | $8,071 | |
| Campus: Allan Hancock | College of Science and Math, College of Business, College of Liberal Arts | $3,419 | $3,922 | included | = | $7,341 |
| Campus: Cuesta | College of Business, College of Liberal Arts | $3,419 | $3,922 | included | = |
$7,341 |
First-Year Housing & Dining Overview
All first-year students at Cal Poly, including those at the San Luis Obispo and Maritime campuses, are generally required to live on campus. This requirement ensures that students have immediate access to campus resources and community support during their transition to university life.
Housing & Dining Plans
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Housing: Assignments are made based on your Residential Learning Community or college affiliation. Charges are posted for the full academic year but are billed in monthly installments (due the 1st of each month).
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Dining: First-year students are required to select a residential dining plan. These plans provide a set amount of "Dining Dollars" per quarter or semester, which can be used at various campus eateries.
Important Note on Military Benefits
It is important to remember that no military educational benefit pays Cal Poly directly for housing or dining plans. While programs such as the Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) or VR&E provide a Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) or stipend directly to the student, these funds are not sent to the university's housing or dining offices.
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Your Responsibility: Students are responsible for using their monthly stipends or personal funds to pay their housing and dining invoices by the established deadlines.
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Automatic Deferrals: Please note that while registration fees may be deferred if you have an active aid award, this deferral does not apply to housing and dining charges.
Navigating Your Student Account & Fees
Beyond tuition and housing, there are several components to your financial profile at Cal Poly. The resources below provide detailed breakdowns of campus-specific costs and step-by-step guides for managing your billing account.
Essential Tools & Links
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Fee Breakdowns: Review the Campus-Based Fees Description to see how your local fees support student services, and check the [2026-27 Registration and Tuition Fees] for a full list of upcoming costs.
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Payment & Financial Aid: Access the Financial Aid Basics guide or the Parent and Supporter Payment Portal to ensure your balance is settled on time.
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Troubleshooting: If you see a "Hold" on your account or need a tutorial on how to navigate the portal, refer to the Student Account Holds and Student Accounts How To's and Guides sections.
| Fees Viewable |
First Years: TBD |
|---|---|
| 1st Financial Aid Disbursement |
8/17/2026 |
| Fee Past Due Date | 8/20/2026 |
| 1st Direct Deposit Refund for Excess Financial Aid |
8/21/2026 |
| 1st Day of Class |
8/24/2026 |
| Class Cancellation (students with financial aid still pending exempt) | 9/1/2026 |
| Add/Drop Period Ends |
varies by session |
| Fees Viewable |
First Years: TBD |
|---|---|
| 1st Financial Aid Disbursement |
1/18/2027 |
| Fee Past Due Date | 1/21/2027 |
| 1st Direct Deposit Refund for Excess Financial Aid |
1/22/2027 |
| 1st Day of Class |
1/25/2027 |
| Class Cancellation (students with financial aid still pending exempt) | 2/5/2027 |
| Add/Drop Period Ends |
varies by session |
