Humboldt State University vs. San Diego State

Should I go to Humboldt State University or San Diego State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Humboldt State University or San Diego State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Humboldt State University vs. San Diego State University comparison
Humboldt State University San Diego State University College 3 College 4
Humboldt State University San Diego State University
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Overview

Humboldt State University San Diego State
Location Arcata, CA San Diego, CA
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 6,025 37,402
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #831 #337
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website humboldt.edu sdsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Humboldt State University San Diego State
Tuition (In State) $5,742 $5,742
Tuition (Out of State) $17,622 $17,622
Room & Board $12,540 $19,714
Avg Net Price $14,325 $13,017
Avg Grant Aid $9,262 $9,934
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 43%

Admission

Humboldt State University San Diego State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 8,505 77,250
Admitted 8,350 30,331
Acceptance Rate 98.2% 39.3%
Enrolled % 11.5% 21.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.82
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 17/25 22/29
SAT Range 970/1190 1090/1300
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Apr 30, 2025 Nov 30, 2024

Academics

Humboldt State University San Diego State
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 25:1
Popular Majors
  • Natural Resources Conservation (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Humboldt State University San Diego State
Graduation Rate 40% 66%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,000 $53,400
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,500 $15,349
Median Loan Payment $201 $158

Diversity

Humboldt State University San Diego State
% Men 42% 42%
% Women 58% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 45% 34%
% Black 3% 4%
% Hispanic 33% 31%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 7%
% International 1% 6%
% Unknown Race 7% 4%

Students

Humboldt State University San Diego State
% In-State 91% 77%
% Out-of-State 8% 21%

Campus

Humboldt State University San Diego State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • San Diego State University is larger than than Humboldt State University based on total student enrollment (37,402 students vs. 6,025 students)

Humboldt State University vs. San Diego State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Humboldt State University or San Diego State?

  • Humboldt State University and San Diego State cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($5,742.00 vs. $5,742.00)
  • Out of state tuition is the same at Humboldt State University as San Diego State University ($17,622.00 vs. $17,622.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Diego State University than Humboldt State University ($13,017 vs. $14,325)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Humboldt State University are 57.2% lower than costs at San Diego State University ($12,540 vs. $19,714)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Humboldt State University than San Diego State University (66% vs. 43%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego State University students is 7.3% larger than aid received Humboldt State University ($9,934 vs. $9,262)

Humboldt State University vs. San Diego State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Humboldt State University or San Diego State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between San Diego State or Humboldt State University .

  • The average SAT score at San Diego State University (1130) is 140 points higher than at Humboldt State University (990)
  • Incoming San Diego State students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Humboldt State University (21)
  • Accepted freshman San Diego State students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.82) than students at Humboldt State University (3.33)
  • Humboldt State University has a higher acceptance rate (98.2%) than San Diego State (39.3%)

Humboldt State University vs. San Diego State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Humboldt State University or San Diego State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between San Diego State and Humboldt State University.

  • The graduation rate at San Diego State is higher than Humboldt State University (66% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from San Diego State University earn on average $14,400 more per year than Humboldt State University graduates after ten years. ($53,400 vs. $39,000)
  • San Diego State University students graduate with a $4,151 lower median federal student loan debt than Humboldt State University graduates. ($15,349 vs. $19,500)
  • San Diego State graduates are paying $43 less per month on federal student loans than Humboldt State University graduates. ($158 vs. $201)
  • More San Diego State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Humboldt State University students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 56%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/