California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs. University of the People

Deciding between California State Polytechnic University Humboldt and University of the People? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California State Polytechnic University Humboldt

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata, CA
  • University of the People Pasadena, California
  • Setting
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Remote Town
  • University of the People Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 6,237
  • University of the People 41,961
  • Type
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Public 4 Year
  • University of the People Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt #787
  • University of the People
  • Religious Affiliation
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt -
  • University of the People -
  • Status
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Non-profit
  • University of the People Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
  • University of the People
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $8,250
  • University of the People $1,400
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $20,850
  • University of the People $1,400
  • Room & Board
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $14,118
  • University of the People $2,001
  • Average Net Price
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $14,090
  • University of the People $1,575
  • Average Grant Aid
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $10,748
  • University of the People $1,026
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 66%
  • University of the People 74%
  • Admissions

  • Admission Chances
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Calculate
  • University of the People Calculate
  • Applied
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 15,725
  • University of the People -
  • Admitted
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 15,442
  • University of the People -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 98.2%
  • University of the People Open
  • Enrolled
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 5.9%
  • University of the People Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 1080
  • University of the People
  • Typical ACT score
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 21
  • University of the People
  • Average High School GPA
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 3.33
  • University of the People -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt B+
  • University of the People -
  • Admissions Standards
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Easy
  • University of the People Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
  • University of the People
  • ACT Range
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 17/25
  • University of the People
  • SAT Range
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 970/1190
  • University of the People
  • Submit Test Scores
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Test-free
  • University of the People Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027
  • University of the People
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 16:1
  • University of the People 28:1
  • Popular Majors
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
    • Natural Resources Conservation (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • University of the People
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 40%
  • University of the People -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $39,000
  • University of the People N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 56%
  • University of the People -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $19,500
  • University of the People N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $201
  • University of the People N/A
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 44%
  • University of the People 54%
  • % Women
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 56%
  • University of the People 46%
  • Racial Diversity
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt High
  • University of the People -
  • HBCU
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt No
  • University of the People No
  • % White
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 45%
  • University of the People 0%
  • % Asian
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 3%
  • University of the People 0%
  • % Black
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 3%
  • University of the People 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 33%
  • University of the People 0%
  • % Native American
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 1%
  • University of the People 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 0%
  • University of the People 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 6%
  • University of the People 0%
  • % International
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 1%
  • University of the People 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 7%
  • University of the People 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 90%
  • University of the People 3%
  • % Out-of-State
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 9%
  • University of the People 46%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Yes
  • University of the People No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt No
  • University of the People
  • Meal Plan
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Yes
  • University of the People No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt No
  • University of the People Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Yes
  • University of the People
  • Learn More
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Details
  • University of the People Details

Comparable Facts

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

University of the People is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (41,961 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); University of the People is in Pasadena, California (Midsize City setting).
  • California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of the People is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 16:1; University of the People 28:1.

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs. University of the People Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt or University of the People? 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 University of the People than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt ($1,575 vs. $14,090).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of the People are 85.8% lower than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt ($2,001 vs. $14,118).
  • California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is 489.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of the People (about $6,850 more per year; $8,250.00 vs. $1,400.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1,389.3% higher at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt than at University of the People (about $19,450 more per year; $20,850.00 vs. $1,400.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of the People than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (74% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students is 947.6% larger than aid received by University of the People students ($10,748 vs. $1,026).

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs. University of the People Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt or University of the People? 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 University of the People and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

  • University of the People reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 970/1190.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 17/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt - Test-free; University of the People - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs. University of the People Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt and University of the People? 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).

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.