Our Founding Your Future

Since 1901, Cal Poly and Learn by Doing have been inextricably linked. Combining rigorous academics and real-world applications, Learn by Doing has guided and inspired hundreds of thousands of our students toward successful careers for well over a century — and can do the same for you well into your future.

Explore Learn by Doing

See Yourself Here

Whether you're dreaming of attending Cal Poly in the future or have already secured your spot, discover what sets us apart. Explore our renowned Learn by Doing approach and the impactful contributions our graduates make. Then see what it's like to study here.

Let’s go

Students and a professor stand among plants and are seen from above.

California Impact

Learn by Doing ensures you play an active role in helping solve some of California’s — and the world’s — most complex challenges: climate change, tech and humanity, space, the built environment, food and wine, and entrepreneurship, to name just a few. It also helps to ensure that when you graduate, both you and employers will agree with us that you are ready.

A car drives away from a wildfire with dark smoke in the sky

Blazing a Trail

Two professors secured a patent for their innovative approach to curbing wildfires before they spread to homes and communities.

Dive Into Their Work

Students work on a project for NASA’s Micro-g NExT (Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams) Challenge

Reach for the Stars

NASA scientists tested two prototypes developed by Cal Poly students as part of a challenge to develop solutions for space exploration.

Read About the Experience

Students present the tree mapping project

A Cooler California

Students spent their summer mapping tree canopy cover, aiming to offset the heat island effect for California cities as the climate warms.

Branch Out With Them

Learn by Doing Leads the way

Cal Poly’s six academic colleges offer more than 150 undergraduate majors and minors, as well as over 50 graduate programs. Learn by Doing unifies our colleges and animates the curriculum of each — because no matter the field of study, the best way to build new knowledge is to try it out for yourself.