Cal Poly SLO Scholarships

I'm a rising junior really into Cal Poly SLO. What types of scholarships do they offer to help offset their tuition costs? Are there any based on merits or even for specific programs? Thanks!

Cal Poly SLO does offer several scholarships to help students with their tuition, and these can be divided into two main types: merit-based and program-specific.

Merit-based scholarships are awarded based on academic or extracurricular achievements. These scholarships do not need to be repaid and are awarded to both incoming first-year students and continuing students. These can vary in terms of award amounts, and often look at aspects like GPA, SAT/ACT scores (if available), and other achievements.

Program-specific scholarships are connected to specific disciplines or fields of study. These are often funded by donations from alumni or industry partners interested in supporting students in specific programs. For example, the Orfalea College of Business and the College of Engineering both offer scholarships specific to their students.

The specific scholarships and their criteria but the details for each scholarship, including eligibility criteria and amounts, are usually updated on the Cal Poly SLO Financial Aid's scholarship webpage. Make sure you check out their deadlines and apply as early as possible! And keep in mind that filling out the FAFSA is generally a fundamental step for being considered for most financial aid opportunities. Additionally, you may also want to explore external scholarships. There are numerous organizations and foundations that offer scholarships based on a wide range of criteria. Resources like College Board's Scholarship Search can be useful in finding these. Just be conscious to avoid scams; legitimate scholarships should never ask for a payment or have application fees. Good luck with your scholarship search!