California public university with more than 150 undergraduate programs, united by one philosophy — Learn by Doing. Founded in 1901, California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) is one of five comprehensive polytechnic universities in the U.S., with about 18,000 undergraduate and 900 graduate students. Located in San Luis Obispo, California, Cal Poly maintains a guiding philosophy of “Learn By Doing” that is reflected in the school’s comprehensive curriculum combining technical and professional training with the arts and humanities.