California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs. California State University-San Marcos

Comparable Facts

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

California State University San Marcos is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 6,237 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is located in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting); California State University San Marcos is in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University San Marcos is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 16:1; California State University San Marcos 24:1.

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs. California State University-San Marcos Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt or California State University-San Marcos? 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 San Marcos than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt ($10,241 vs. $14,090).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt are 0.2% lower than at California State University San Marcos ($14,118 vs. $14,152).
• California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is 2.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State University-San Marcos (about $168 more per year; $8,250.00 vs. $8,082.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt than at California State University San Marcos (about $168 more per year; $20,850.00 vs. $20,682.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University San Marcos than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (71% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University San Marcos students is 3.5% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($11,123 vs. $10,748).

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs. California State University-San Marcos Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt or California State University-San Marcos? 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 University-San Marcos and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (1080) is 40 points higher than at California State University-San Marcos (1040).
• Incoming California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (21 vs. 19 at California State University-San Marcos).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 970/1190; California State University San Marcos 950/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 17/25; California State University San Marcos 17/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt - Test-free; California State University-San Marcos - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027; California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.
• Accepted freshman California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at California State University-San Marcos (3.32).
• California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt has a higher acceptance rate (98.2%) than California State University-San Marcos (95.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs. 14% at California State University-San Marcos.

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs. California State University-San Marcos Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt and California State University-San Marcos? 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 San Marcos's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than California State Polytechnic University Humboldt's (40%).
• Graduates from California State University San Marcos earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,100 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University San Marcos graduates have a $1,505 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($17,995 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, California State University-San Marcos graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($186 vs. $201).
• More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation. (66% 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.