Cal State LA vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Los Angeles in Los Angeles, 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 University Los Angeles is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (23,163 students vs. 6,237 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
• California State University Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 21:1; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 16:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Cal State LA 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 University Los Angeles than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt ($4,460 vs. $14,090).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt are 28.3% lower than at California State University Los Angeles ($14,118 vs. $19,696).
• California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is 15.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State LA (about $1,090 more per year; $8,250.00 vs. $7,160.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt than at California State University Los Angeles (about $1,090 more per year; $20,850.00 vs. $19,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Los Angeles than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (94% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Los Angeles students is 28.6% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($13,824 vs. $10,748).

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

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State LA 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 State LA.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (1080) is 110 points higher than at Cal State LA (970).
• Incoming California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 17 at Cal State LA).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Los Angeles 870/1060; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 970/1190.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Los Angeles 15/20; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 17/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State LA - Test-free; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
• Accepted freshman California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at Cal State LA (3.31).
• California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt has a higher acceptance rate (98.2%) than Cal State LA (91.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Cal State LA vs. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

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

How do outcomes compare for Cal State LA 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 Polytechnic University Humboldt's six-year graduation rate (40%) is higher than California State University Los Angeles's (36%).
• Graduates from California State University Los Angeles earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,900 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Los Angeles graduates have a $6,580 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($12,920 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Cal State LA graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($133 vs. $201).
• More Cal State LA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation. (57% 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.