CMA vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA with California State Polytechnic University Humboldt in Arcata, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is larger than CMA based on total student enrollment (6,237 students vs. 837 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Maritime Academy is located in Vallejo, CA (Midsize City setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
• California State University Maritime Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Maritime Academy 11:1; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 16:1.

CMA vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMA or California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt than CMA ($14,090 vs. $19,040).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt are 2.9% lower than at California State University Maritime Academy ($14,118 vs. $14,536).
• California State University Maritime Academy is 20.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (about $1,694 more per year; $9,944.00 vs. $8,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.1% higher at CMA than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (about $1,694 more per year; $22,544.00 vs. $20,850.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt than at California State University Maritime Academy (66% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Maritime Academy students is 2.7% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($11,038 vs. $10,748).

CMA vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CMA or California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt and CMA.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State Polytechnic University Humboldt 970/1190.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCalifornia State Polytechnic University Humboldt 17/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMA - Test-free; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CMA Dec 15, 2026; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CMA students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (3.33).
• California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt has a higher acceptance rate (98.2%) than CMA (95%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at CMA vs. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

CMA vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMA and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• California State University Maritime Academy's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than California State Polytechnic University Humboldt's (40%).
• Graduates from California State University Maritime Academy earn a median of about $51,500 more per year than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,500 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State Polytechnic University Humboldt graduates have a $6,026 lower median loan debt than CMA graduates ($19,500 vs. $25,526).
• Among borrowers, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMA graduates ($201 vs. $263).
• More CMA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 56%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.