Accepted Graduate/Credential Student Checklist

You've been accepted! Now you will have to take some steps to complete your enrollment. This list is meant to be an overview to help guide you in the process.

Accept Your Offer of Admission

You will need to accept your offer of admission on the Student Center tab on your My Cal Poly Portal.

Read the Terms and Conditions of Admission

Once you accept our offer of admission, you should read through the Terms and Conditions of admission and make sure you stay in compliance.

Stay in Touch

Make sure you keep your personal info updated on your My Cal Poly Portal. Be sure to add [email protected] and [email protected] to your contacts list to ensure that you are getting all of our emails.

Become Familiar with your Graduate Coordinator

Each program has its own graduate coordinator. This person will be able to answer questions during the enrollment process and is someone you will be in close contact with during your first quarter to develop a Working Formal Study Plan for your degree.

Apply for Financial Aid and Scholarships

If you haven’t already, submit the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act as soon as possible and have it sent to Cal Poly. Our Federal School Code is 001143. Make sure you file by March 2 to maximize your potential aid and scholarship opportunities. You should also look over the types of aid offered to graduate students, as some require additional applications.

Review Costs of Attendance

Review Costs of Attendance for a breakdown of what you can expect to pay.

Find Housing

Cal Poly offers housing to graduate students based on demand and availability. The housing application will open in mid to late-March and is accessible through the Housing app. Only students who accept their offer of admission will be able to apply for campus housing.

Interested in living off campus? Our Dean of Students has resources to help you with your search and learn about becoming a renter.

Learn About Making Payments

You will be able to view your account information on the Money Matters tab or the Student Center on the My Cal Poly Portal . Cal Poly does not invoice or send paper statements, so you will need to monitor your account on a routine basis. The New Student Guide has more information on your student account and making payments.

Submit Transcripts and Other Documents

Cal Poly will need to receive an official transcript(s) that includes your degree confirmed as soon as possible after you are accepted. Some students may need to submit other documents and will be notified accordingly.

Registering for Classes

How you will register for classes will depend on your individual program. Please reach out to your Graduate Coordinator/Director to understand the process or with any particular questions.

Register for Graduate Student Orientation

Graduate Student Orientation will be held directly before classes begin in the fall quarter. You'll learn about navigating your path to degree completion, life at Cal Poly as a graduate student, and the support services available to you.

Immunization Requirements

Cal Poly requires incoming students to have immunizations for Measles, Rubella and Hepatitis B. We also recommend that Cal Poly students meet the new California Department of Public Health recommendations for College students.

California Residency

California law requires every student attending Cal Poly to be classified as either a California resident or nonresident for tuition purposes. This residency classification is important because nonresident students pay additional fees each quarter.