California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and families looking for lower cost. no major red flags in the data. a public school with 5,612 students.
About This School
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is a public institution located in Arcata, California with approximately 5,612 undergraduate students enrolled. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 98%. The average net price after financial aid is $13,171 per year. The graduation rate is 49%, and the typical graduate earns $40,100 within 10 years of enrollment.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: while the nearly open admissions (99% acceptance rate) and relatively modest $18,000 median debt are appealing, a 47% graduation rate means fewer than half of students who start actually finish — a red flag worth taking seriously. Worth considering if you're drawn to the school's environmental and science-focused programs in a tight-knit, outdoorsy setting in Northern California, but come in with a clear plan and strong support system. Median earnings of $40,100 a decade out are modest, so this makes more sense financially if you're pursuing a specific career path tied to the region rather than chasing earning potential.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 8% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates earn most above the national rate in Forestry ($79,849 vs $58,784 nationally), and most below it in Computer Science ($74,620 vs $107,009).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 153 | $45,889 | $50,706 | −$4,817 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 120 | $50,915 | $55,012 | −$4,097 |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | 98 | $47,003 | $45,338 | +$1,665 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 91 | $60,005 | $68,257 | −$8,252 |
| Biology, General | 85 | $55,707 | $57,214 | −$1,507 |
| Social Work | 66 | $57,953 | $51,790 | +$6,163 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 58 | $55,222 | $54,562 | +$660 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 50 | $34,812 | $41,367 | −$6,555 |
| Forestry | 44 | $79,849 | $58,784 | +$21,065 |
| Computer Science | 42 | $74,620 | $107,009 | −$32,389 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 40 | $43,310 | $48,590 | −$5,280 |
| Zoology/Animal Biology | 38 | $38,495 | $44,055 | −$5,560 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (5,612 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
1 Harpst Street
Arcata, CA 95521-8299
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt has an acceptance rate of 98%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt hard to get into?
Not especially. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt has an acceptance rate of 98%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt cost?
The average net price at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is about $13,171 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt has a graduation rate of 49%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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