During the Great Depression, financial constraints led to discussions in Sacramento about converting Cal Poly into a state prison.

In 1947, the school was renamed California State Polytechnic College to better reflect its expanding higher education offerings.

In 1960, control of Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and other state colleges was transferred to the newly formed CSU system.

That same year, a plane crash killed 22 of the 48 people on board, including 16 Cal Poly football players.

On May 3, 2017, Cal Poly received a $110 million gift from alumni William L. and Linda Frost, one of the largest donations ever made to public education in California.

[22]Cal Poly has one of the largest college campuses in the United States, covering 9,178 acres and making it the second-largest land-holding university in California.

It supports Cal Poly's “Learn by Doing” philosophy with an emphasis on sustainable agricultural practices and laboratory experiments.

This development includes seven 3- to 5-story concrete-framed freshman residence hall buildings with 1,475 beds and an adjacent four-level parking structure.

Additional site improvements provide a large open space for activities and group events, volleyball and basketball courts, and outdoor gathering areas.

[27] It includes laboratories, classrooms, offices for the physics, chemistry, and soil science programs, and spaces for the Western Coatings Technologies Center and the Environmental Biotechnology Institute.

[29] To address this, the plan emphasizes reducing demand for individual vehicle parking by constructing additional dorms and enhancing campus life.

Cal Poly Commuter and Access Services has successfully promoted alternatives to single occupancy vehicles, with bus use more than doubling and bicycle use nearly quadrupling from 2002 to 2012.

Cal Poly supports SLO Transit with funding from parking citation revenue, allowing faculty, staff, and students to ride for free.

[31] The SLO Regional Transit Authority provides bus service throughout the county, with discounted passes available to the Cal Poly community.As of 2020, the university offers 65 bachelor's degrees, 39 master's degrees, 84 minors and 13 credentials in six colleges:[5] All undergraduate students are required to complete a senior project, a capstone experience integrating theory and application from their undergraduate studies.

Notable examples include Punchd, acquired by Google, and Jamba Juice, inspired by a senior project idea.

[34][35] The campus area known as ‘Architecture Graveyard’ hosts many senior projects, including experimental and unconventional structures.

Enrolled Fall Freshman Statistics[36][37] Cal Poly's admissions process is described as “more selective” according to U.S. News & World Report.

[40] As of 2024, Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo has been ranked the best public master's-level university in the Western United States for 30 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report.

In 2010, the program's awareness section won the National Orientation Directors Association (NODAC) Media & Publications Showcase Award for Emerging Technologies, developed entirely by student volunteers.

[59] It is a member of the Big West Conference, except for football, wrestling, women's indoor track & field and both swimming and diving teams.

[64] The Battle for the Golden Horseshoe is an annual rivalry college football game between the UC Davis Aggies and the Cal Poly Mustangs.

[66] Cal Poly Foundation: An auxiliary organization and IRC 501(c)(3) public charity that accepts and administers tax-deductible gifts to the university.

[67] Cal Poly Extended Education: Provides degree, certificate, and professional development programs to residents of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Monterey Counties, and through distance learning technologies to students nationwide.