Overview

With the only dairy science program in California and the West Coast, Cal Poly is also one of the most advanced academic facilities in the United States for those pursuing a career in the dairy industry.

You will learn animal nutrition, physiology, genetics and management, as well as the fundamentals of dairy products technology and processing. The Dairy Science program at California Polytechnic State University is small and provides opportunities for individual attention and mentorship, as well as paid work experience and scholarships. You are also strongly encouraged to participate in internships to gain practical experience and test potential career directions.

Learn By Doing

Dairy science majors are responsible for the day-to-day operations of both the Corporation Dairy and the Cal Poly Creamery. Under the supervision of management, you will perform all of the tasks necessary to operate these units and be paid for your efforts.

These facilities allow you to experience all aspects of modern dairy operations, from both the cattle to the foods sides of the dairy industry. You are able to practice animal health, explore breeding and genetic selection strategies, and learn about the business aspects of running a dairy farm. You are also able to create dairy products, learn techniques for monitoring quality and assuring food safety, and practice skills in dairy product formulation and food chemistry.

Career

Dairy science graduates pursue a wide variety of careers including those in agriculture, dairy foods, education, veterinary school and dairy/dairy plant management.

A very high percentage of dairy science graduates go to work in dairy or allied fields. Dairy science experts are in high-demand and employers come from across the nation to recruit our graduates.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Dairy Operations and Safety

Dairy Promotion and Marketing

General Dairy Husbandry

General Dairy Manufacturing

Milk Processing and Inspection

Dairy Cattle Selection, Breeds, Fitting and Showing

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-18 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-02 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

115

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

180 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

San Luis Obispo, United States

Disciplines

Animal Science View 303 other Bachelors in Animal Science in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

115

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Coursework: They look at the college-prep coursework you have taken during high school, including the courses you have in progress or planned during 12th grade

GPA: For the purposes of your application, they'll consider your 9th-11th grade weighted GPA
Extracurricular Activities and Work Experience: Cal Poly takes activities such as work experience, internships, volunteer programs and extracurricular activities into consideration

Make sure you have a copy of your transcripts, current and planned class schedules, household annual income and social security number (if available).

There is a $70 application fee per campus at the time you apply, unless you qualify for an application fee waiver

English proficiency exam results

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

28359 USD / year

≈ 28359 USD / year
Out-of-State

28359 USD / year

≈ 28359 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

15039 USD / year

≈ 15039 USD / year

Living costs

San Luis Obispo

United States

1100 - 1800 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Dairy Science.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Learn By Doing

Career

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

San Luis Obispo

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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