UCSC vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Santa Cruz is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 6,237 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
• University of California Santa Cruz 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: University of California Santa Cruz 22:1; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 16:1.

UCSC vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCSC 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 Polytechnic University Humboldt than UCSC ($14,090 vs. $18,059).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt are 29.2% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($14,118 vs. $19,948).
• University of California Santa Cruz is 94% more expensive for in-state tuition than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (about $7,755 more per year; $16,005.00 vs. $8,250.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 140.8% higher at UCSC than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (about $29,355 more per year; $50,205.00 vs. $20,850.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt than at University of California Santa Cruz (66% vs. 57%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 111.9% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($22,774 vs. $10,748).

UCSC vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCSC 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 UCSC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Santa Cruz (1260) is 180 points higher than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (1080).
• Incoming UCSC students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 21 at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 1160/1360; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 970/1190.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Santa Cruz 25/33; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 17/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCSC - Test-free; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UCSC students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (3.33).
• California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt has a higher acceptance rate (98.2%) than UCSC (65.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

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

How do outcomes compare for UCSC 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).

• University of California Santa Cruz's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than California State Polytechnic University Humboldt's (40%).
• Graduates from University of California Santa Cruz earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State Polytechnic University Humboldt graduates have a $459 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($19,500 vs. $19,959).
• Among borrowers, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($201 vs. $206).
• More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.