Cal Poly vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Comparable Facts

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

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (23,069 students vs. 6,237 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, CA (Small Suburban setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 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 Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 19:1; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 16:1.

Cal Poly vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal Poly 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 Cal Poly ($14,090 vs. $17,453).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt are 24.9% lower than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo ($14,118 vs. $18,792).
• California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is 64.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (about $5,346 more per year; $13,596.00 vs. $8,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66.3% higher at Cal Poly than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (about $13,815 more per year; $34,665.00 vs. $20,850.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt than at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (66% vs. 48%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo students is 33.4% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($14,338 vs. $10,748).

Cal Poly vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal Poly 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 Cal Poly.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo (1320) is 240 points higher than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (1080).
• Incoming Cal Poly students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 21 at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 1220/1410; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 970/1190.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo 26/32; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 17/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal Poly - Test-free; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal Poly Nov 30, 2026; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Cal Poly students have a 0.67 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (3.33).
• California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt has a higher acceptance rate (98.2%) than Cal Poly (31.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at Cal Poly vs. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

Cal Poly vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal Poly 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 Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than California State Polytechnic University Humboldt's (40%).
• Graduates from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $30,400 more per year than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,400 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo graduates have a $834 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($18,666 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Cal Poly graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($193 vs. $201).
• More Cal Poly graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation. (85% 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.