California State University-Northridge vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Northridge in Northridge, 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 Northridge is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (38,313 students vs. 6,237 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Northridge is located in Northridge, CA (Large City setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
• California State University Northridge 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 Northridge 25:1; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 16:1.

California State University-Northridge vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State University-Northridge 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 Northridge than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt ($7,536 vs. $14,090).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Northridge are 2.2% lower than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt ($13,804 vs. $14,118).
• California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is 10.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State University-Northridge (about $792 more per year; $8,250.00 vs. $7,458.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt than at California State University Northridge (about $792 more per year; $20,850.00 vs. $20,058.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Northridge than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (83% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Northridge students is 19.3% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($12,825 vs. $10,748).

California State University-Northridge vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State University-Northridge 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 California State University-Northridge.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (1080) is 70 points higher than at California State University-Northridge (1010).
• Incoming California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 19 at California State University-Northridge).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Northridge 900/1110; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 970/1190.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Northridge 16/22; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 17/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State University-Northridge - Test-free; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State University-Northridge Nov 30, 2026; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
• Accepted freshman California State University-Northridge students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.38) than students at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (3.33).
• California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt has a higher acceptance rate (98.2%) than California State University-Northridge (93.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18% at California State University-Northridge vs. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

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

How do outcomes compare for California State University-Northridge 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 Northridge's six-year graduation rate (46%) is higher than California State Polytechnic University Humboldt's (40%).
• Graduates from California State University Northridge earn a median of about $8,500 more per year than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,500 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Northridge graduates have a $5,304 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($14,196 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, California State University-Northridge graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($146 vs. $201).
• More California State University-Northridge graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation. (59% 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.