Contact: Cynthia Lambert SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly will celebrate 6,300 students who are eligible to graduate at the university’s commencement ceremonies on Saturday and Sunday, June 15 and 16, at Spanos Stadium. The six college ceremonies will be held at 8:30 a.m., 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. each weekend day. An estimated 50,000 guests are expected across all the ceremonies. Each ceremony will last roughly 90 minutes and be streamed live online. The Class of 2024 will join more than 225,000 Cal Poly Proud alumni making an impact in their communities, in California and across the nation and the world. “At Cal Poly, everything is ultimately about student success, and this year’s graduates have succeeded brilliantly,” said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. “They are prepared to show the world what they can do.” Honorary Degrees Bradford Parkinson Parkinson will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree on June 15, during the College of Engineering ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Parkinson was the chief architect for the Global Positioning System (GPS) as a U.S. Air Force colonel. He became the first director of the GPS Joint Program Office and led the original development of many types of related equipment. Parkinson retired from the Air Force in 1978 and in 1984became a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford University, where he is currently the Edward C. Wells professor emeritus in the School of Engineering. He is also first vice chairman for the National Space-Based Positioning, Navigation and Timing advisory board. Parkinson was named co-recipient of the Charles Stark Draper Prize in 2003 for his contribution to the development of the GPS. The Draper Prize is considered by some to be the engineering profession’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize. In 2004, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. In 2016, Parkinson received the Marconi Prize, recognizing his achievement and advancements made in the field of communications. In 2019, Parkinson and the co-creators of GPS were awarded the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering. Ted Tollner Tollner will receive an honorary doctor of humane letters during the Philip and Christina Bailey College of Science and Mathematics ceremony at 12:30 p.m. June 16. Tollner (Physical Education, ’62; M.S., Education, ’65) is a retired college and NFL football coach. He coached at various colleges, including College of San Mateo, San Diego State University, Brigham Young University and the University of Southern California. In 1987, he began coaching in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and went on to coach with the San Diego Chargers, the Los Angeles Rams, the San Francisco 49ers, the Detroit Lions and the Oakland Raiders. While at Cal Poly, Tollner was the starting quarterback for two seasons and pitcher on the baseball team for four seasons. He was an all-conference selection in both football and baseball and represented the USA baseball team in the 1962 Pan American Games. He is one of 26 survivors of the 1960 Cal Poly football team plane crash. In 1989, he was inducted into the Cal Poly Athletics Hall of Fame and has served on the Cal Poly Athletic Director’s Council since 2010. Hansjörg Wyss Wyss will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree June 16, during the Orfalea College of Business ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Wyss was the founder and chairman of Synthes, a global medical device company that today is part of Johnson & Johnson. He created the Wyss Foundation to help ensure that the iconic Western landscapes that inspired him are protected for everyone to experience and explore. Today, the Wyss Foundation’s philanthropy supports projects in areas from conservation and education to economic opportunity and social justice. In 2000, Wyss purchased Halter Ranch Vineyard and Winery in Paso Robles, California. The ranch spans over 2,000 acres, with 281 acres of Sustainability in Practice (SIP)-certified wine grapes, 15 acres of walnuts and 10 acres of olives. Halter Ranch and the Wyss Foundation have supported Cal Poly’s Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Scholarship in Wine and Viticulture as well as the Sustainable Energy Lab in the Electrical Engineering Department and the Cal Poly Plant Conservatory. Parking Uber and Lyft drop-off locations are in lots C7 on the northern end of California Boulevard, via Highland Drive, and C2d, accessible from the south California campus entrance via Campus Way. Parking is available off Highland Drive in lots H1, H12, H14 and H16. Accessible/ADA parking for guests with mobility impairments will be available in lots H2a, C7 and the Grand Avenue parking structure (No. 130). All vehicles must have a valid accessible parking placard or license plate to park in accessible lots. Shuttles will travel between parking lots/structures and the stadium throughout the day to transport guests with mobility impairments and one companion. Wheelchair rentals are available for guests with mobility impairments. For additional parking and shuttle information, visit https://commencement.calpoly.edu/spring. Members of the media can park in the C-2 lot off Campus Way. Media badges can be picked up at the southeast entrance in the soccer locker room. For more on parking lot locations, visit https://maps.calpoly.edu/. Safety and Security This year, the university has upgraded from handheld security wands to move-through metal detectors at all entrances to speed up the entry process. All graduates and guests will be subject to metal detector screening prior to entering Spanos Stadium. For additional safety and security information, including a list of prohibited items, visit https://commencement.calpoly.edu/spring. For additional details, including live streaming of the ceremonies, visit: Total number of eligible graduates: 6,312 (undergraduate and grad students) Total number of eligible degrees: 6,705 (includes students receiving multiple degrees) Eligible undergraduate degrees: 5,920 Eligible graduate degrees: 78 Bailey College of Science and Mathematics (BCSM): 822 College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES): 1,223 College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED): 513 College of Engineering (CENG): 2,023 College of Liberal Arts (CLA): 1,071 Orfalea College of Business (OCOB): 1,053 Top 10 Undergraduate Degrees *Undergraduate Business Administration Concentrations (OCOB offers nine subject concentrations for undergraduate business administration majors; some students take double concentrations.) Total: 819 Top 10 Graduate Degrees
805-234-4402; [emailprotected]
The university will award honorary degrees to three individuals: award-winning leader and educator Bradford Parkinson; Cal Poly alumnus and Athletics Hall of Fame member Ted Tollner; and innovative leader Hansjörg Wyss.
Although parking permits are not required for commencement weekend, campus parking will be highly impacted because of the expected large crowds. Consider using alternative transportation such as SLO Transit, Uber, Lyft, carpooling or bicycling to avoid delays.
A clear bag policy will be in effect in Spanos Stadium for graduates and guests. This limits individuals to one clear bag or small clutch per person (12 x 6 x 12 clear bag, 12 x 12 Ziploc, or 4.5 x 8.5 clutch). Diaper bags and medically necessary items/bags are permitted but will go through a thorough search process.Ceremony Schedule
Saturday, June 15
Sunday, June 16
https://commencement.calpoly.edu/spring.At a Glance: The Class of 2024
Degree Breakdown by College
Undergraduate degrees: 724
Graduate degrees: 98
Undergraduate degrees: 1,112
Graduate degrees: 111
Undergraduate degrees: 473
Graduate degrees: 40
Undergraduate degrees: 1,644
Graduate degrees: 379
Undergraduate degrees: 1,028
Graduate degrees: 43
Undergraduate degrees: 939
Graduate degrees: 114
FAQs
How big is the Cal Poly graduating class 2024? ›
Meet six outstanding members of Cal Poly's Class of 2024, representing a graduating class of more than 6,700.
What day is Cal Poly graduation 2024? ›SAN LUIS OBISPO — Cal Poly will celebrate 6,300 students who are eligible to graduate at the university's commencement ceremonies on Saturday and Sunday, June 15 and 16, at Spanos Stadium.
How many tickets do you get for Cal Poly graduation? ›Graduates must claim a ticket for entrance into the ceremony. Graduates can claim up to 10 ceremony guest tickets.
How much is the Cal Poly commencement fee? ›Commencement Fee for 2021-2022
The Commencement Fee amount for Academic Year 2021-2022 is $100, and will be charged only one time for each Cal Poly degree or credential program.
- Marine sciences: 3.2%
- Software engineering: 3.3%
- Biological sciences: 3.3%
- Aerospace engineering: 3.7%
- Kinesiology: 3.8%
- Biochemistry: 4.5%
- Microbiology: 4.6%
- Political science: 4.7%
| Applicants | Acceptance Rate | |
|---|---|---|
| Class of 2026 | 58,935 | 29% |
| Class of 2025 | 54,570 | 33% |
| Class of 2024 | 52,371 | 38% |
| Class of 2023 | 54,072 | 28% |
Bachelor's Degree Candidates
Summa cum laude: cumulative Cal Poly grade point average of 3.85 or higher. Magna cum laude: cumulative Cal Poly grade point average of 3.70 to 3.84. Cum laude: cumulative Cal Poly grade point average of 3.50 to 3.69.
excellence Through Experience
With a reputation for high-quality academics, an emphasis on experiential learning and a focus on mentorship and professional development, Cal Poly is a great place to pursue your graduate education.
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo primarily focuses on undergraduate education and, as of fall 2022, Cal Poly had 20,963 undergraduate and 815 graduate students.
What are the odds of getting into Cal Poly? ›Admissions Rate: 30.3%
This tells you how competitive the school is and how serious their requirements are. The acceptance rate at Cal Poly is 30.3%. For every 100 applicants, 30 are admitted. This means the school is very selective.
How much does it cost for one year at Cal Poly? ›
| Living Off/On Campus* | Living with Family | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Non-Tuition and Fee Expenses | $22,140 | $10,668 |
| Total (Colleges of Engineering, Architecture or Agriculture) | $33,480 | $22,008 |
| Total (Colleges of Science and Math or College of Business) | $33,228 | $21,756 |
| Total (College of Liberal Arts) | $32,916 | $21,444 |
The average GPA at Cal Poly is 4. This makes Cal Poly Extremely Competitive for GPAs. (Most schools use a weighted GPA out of 4.0, though some report an unweighted GPA. With a GPA of 4, Cal Poly requires you to be at the top of your class.
Is Cal Poly worth the money? ›Cal Poly also scored well postgraduation. Nine in 10 graduates (91%) are working full time or in graduate schools within a year, the magazine cited. Students go on to earn median salaries of over $85,000 in their early careers, a premium over similar schools, according to Money's analysis.
How prestigious is Cal Poly SLO? ›Cal Poly was among seven top California schools — and the only California State University campus — to receive 5-star recognition.
Why is Cal Poly SLO more expensive? ›Cal Poly is more expensive than many schools in the University of California system because UC's provide more financial aid. Part of the goal of this plan is to offset some of those costs making Cal Poly a more accessible choice for low and middle-income California students.
How many graduate students attend Cal Poly? ›Cal Poly San Luis Obispo primarily focuses on undergraduate education and, as of fall 2022, Cal Poly had 20,963 undergraduate and 815 graduate students.
How big are the classes at Cal Poly SLO? ›From a 2016 Cal Poly Counselor conference article (which I can't link here), they state that the average class size is 35 and that the student to faculty ratio is 19:1.
How big is Cal Poly students? ›It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 20,963 (fall 2022), and the campus size is 9,178 acres.
How big are the classes at Cal Poly CS? ›The Computer Science program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. Class sizes are kept small — rarely more than 35 students — and are taught by the Computer Science faculty, not graduate students.