Even if the eventual goal was to go on to a PhD program, staying at Cal Poly wouldn’t jeopardize that. It’s still a reputable program. It won’t have potential PhD advisors competing for you like some more prestigious programs might, but it certainly won’t leave you high and dry either. I’ve known people with an MS from there who went on to get a PhD at other good schools. It’s all a matter of research fit, and for a terminal MS, geographic fit.
Staying is definitely a decent bet. It’s a perfectly good school and you certainly wouldn’t suffer career-wise by choosing to stay. “Prestige” schools aren’t worth it if it costs you a mortgage worth of money to go there.
Thanks again!!! 