Cal Poly has an amazing engineering program (btw I have a friend who chose it over UCLA). Employers like to hire them because their curriculum is "hands on," meaning that they are ready to go right from graduation. It's also nice that it's technically a CSU so it's cheaper
Definitely go to the SLO forum and check it out.
The CC route sounds like a good one too. You sound motivated so I'm sure you'd do well in CC and have great options transferring. I don't know about the honors program but I'd be surprised if someone with a 4.5 couldn't get in...