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California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Public Arcata, CA · Town · Far West · 93% data
B- Value B- Earnings B- Affordability
Graduation Rate
48% C-
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$47,626 B-
Roughly in line with national averages
Net Price
$13,171 B-
23% less than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
98% F
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +17% vs avg
Graduation -17% vs avg
Net Price +-23% vs avg

Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 24.8× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $24.8 over 20 years.

24.8× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $24.8 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,253,158.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Every $1 invested returns $24.8 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public University
Carnegie Class
Master's University
Enrollment
5,612
Setting
Town
Designations
HSI
Primary Strengths
Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences, Psychology, Business & Marketing

Why students choose California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Strength in Biology & Biomedical
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 45% overall
B-
Earnings
$47,626 median
B-
Value
3.6× net price
B-
Affordability
$13,171/yr net
C-
Graduation
48% graduate
F
Selectivity
98% admit rate
B-
Diversity
0.65 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt has a remarkably high acceptance rate of 98%. This statistic reflects the university's commitment to accessibility, welcoming nearly all applicants. Students seeking an inclusive environment may find this appealing.

The school's graduation rate stands at 48%, indicating that less than half of students complete their degrees within a typical timeframe. While specific mobility data is not available, students from low-income backgrounds can access support through a 43% Pell Grant rate. This may contribute to potential upward mobility for some graduates, though the effectiveness can vary.

Prospective students should consider the financial aspects. The net price for attending is $13,171, with a median debt of $18,000 upon graduation. Graduates can expect to earn around $47,626 after ten years in the workforce. Those who thrive here often pursue programs in biology, psychology, social sciences, and the arts.

Can I Get In?

How selective California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Arcata, California, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 98%. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.

Acceptance Rate
98%
Retention Rate
76%
Full-Time Faculty
52%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$11,900
Student–Faculty Ratio
15:1
Diversity Index
0.65
First-Gen Students
44%
Applicants
8,505
Admitted
8,350

Inside the Admissions Office

School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25

The acceptance rate tells you how hard California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 6% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.

Yield Rate
6%
of admits enroll
Submitted SAT
12%
of enrolled freshmen
Submitted ACT
2%
of enrolled freshmen

Test-optional, in practice. Only about 14% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.

Source: California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's Common Data Set, 2024-25 View the source document on collegedata.fyi →

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is $20,850, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,171. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,483 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,000 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$8,250
Out-of-State
$20,850
Avg Net Price
$13,171
Median Debt
$18,000
Pell Grant Rate
43%
Federal Loan Rate
34%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$8,483
Family Income $30K–$48K
$8,812
Family Income $48K–$75K
$11,088
Family Income $110K+
$22,228

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt earn a median of $47,626, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$37,382
8 Years
$44,299
10 Years
$47,626
Debt-to-Earnings
0.38x
Earning > $25K
49%

Earnings Trajectory

$37,382 6yr $44,299 8yr $47,626 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (300)
22%
100% (300)
22%
100% (300)
22%
100% (300)
22%

How California Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation48%Earnings 10yr$48KNet Price$13KRetention76%Median Debt$18KPell Grant Rate43%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$8K$0-30K$9K$30-48K$11K$48-75K$22K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,171/year ($52,684 total). Graduates earn $47,626 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,305,842 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,253,158 (24.8× your investment). The median debt is $18,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$52,684
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,305,842
Net Return
$1,253,158
ROI Multiple
24.8×
Cost Per Year
$13,171
Median Debt
$18,000
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
48%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$92,772
Investment Income
$-8,231,389

Top Programs

The fields California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

As a public institution in Arcata, California, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 98%. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is $20,850, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $13,171. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,483 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $18,000 in federal student loans.

Is California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt earn a median of $47,626, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Does California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt offer Early Decision?

No. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt does not report a binding Early Decision plan (2024-25 Common Data Set).

Is California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt really test-optional?

In practice, yes. Only about 14% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (2024-25 Common Data Set).

What percentage of admitted students enroll at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?

About 6% of admitted students choose to enroll at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

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