About California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Arcata, California. It enrolls 5,612 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
67/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes38
Value77
Affordability78
Selectivity3
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 98.2%, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
98.2%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
6.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $13,171 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$13,171
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
43%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
34%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$8,250
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$20,850
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,118
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,432
Books & Supplies
$870
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,332
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,332
Total Cost of Attendance
$25,170
Application fee: $70 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,483
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,812
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,088
$75,001 – $110,000
$15,593
Over $110,000
$22,228
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$18,000Medianpercentile
$24,30075%percentile
$31,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $15,000
↓ $3,000
No Pell $12,500
↓ $5,500
Dependent students $14,000
↓ $4,000
Independent students $16,500
↓ $1,500
Female students $14,250
↓ $3,750
Male students $14,630
↓ $3,370
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $11,000, less than completers ($18,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
57% of full-time students who enrolled at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduate within six years, and 76% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
57%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
76%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt earn a median of $47,626 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$47,626
Earning > $25K
72%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$36,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$44,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$39,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$42,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$39,200
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,700, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
12.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 75% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is home to 5,612 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 44% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
5,612
Part-Time
12%
First-Generation
44%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 51.6%2,894
Hispanic 28.6%1,605
Other 9.1%511
Asian 3.2%178
Black 2.6%143
International 0.3%17
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteArcata, California
Housing
Partly residential2,191 beds available
Adult Learners
23%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
54 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$12,563
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$32M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$95,304
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
271 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
94
35%
$112,723
Associate Professors
70
26%
$99,498
Assistant Professors
55
20%
$82,856
Lecturers
52
19%
$71,335
Pros & Cons of California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
A quick at-a-glance summary of how California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.
Is California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt hard to get into?
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 98.2%.
What is the acceptance rate at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt has an acceptance rate of 98.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt cost?
The average net price after aid at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is $13,171 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $47,626 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $13,171 per year. That's roughly 3.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt known for?
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is best known for its programs in Psychology, Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt are $47,626, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt accredited?
Yes. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt enrolls 5,612 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates 57% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt a public or private college?
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is a Public institution.
Where is California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt located?
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is located in Arcata, California.
What programs does California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt offer?
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt offers 54 distinct programs. The most popular include Psychology, Natural Resources Conservation and Research, Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?
The student-to-faculty ratio at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Build Your College List Pillar
The full process of narrowing from 3,839 US colleges to a shortlist of ~10. Cost, location, size, selectivity, and fit factors that actually predict whether you'll thrive.
What actually makes a college work for first-generation students, the support and aid signals that predict success, and how to find the schools that deliver them using federal data.
How to find the colleges that deliver the strongest return on a STEM degree by weighing earnings outcomes against net cost, rather than chasing the most selective name.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
American Colleges by the Numbers
One federal dataset, 3,839 colleges. The median school costs $16,371 a year, admits 78% of applicants, and enrolls 1,259 students. The shape of US higher ed.
Higher education data
Net price
College enrollment
Acceptance rate
College ownership
Do Selective Schools Actually Graduate More Students?
Across 1,645 four-year colleges, graduation rates climb steadily with selectivity, from 54% at open-admission schools to 93% at the most exclusive. The gap is real.
Graduation rate
Acceptance rate
Selectivity
Completion
College outcomes
For-Profit Colleges Charge the Most and Pay the Least
For-profit colleges post the highest median net price of any sector and the lowest graduate earnings. They cost more than private nonprofits and pay less than publics.
For-profit colleges
Net price
Earnings
College ROI
College ownership
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
