CMA vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA with California State Polytechnic University Humboldt in Arcata, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is larger than CMA based on total student enrollment (6,237 students vs. 837 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Maritime Academy is located in Vallejo, CA (Midsize City setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
• California State University Maritime Academy 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 Maritime Academy 11:1; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 16:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt are 2.9% lower than at California State University Maritime Academy ($14,118 vs. $14,536).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.1% higher at CMA than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (about $1,694 more per year; $22,544 vs. $20,850).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt than at California State University Maritime Academy (66% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Maritime Academy students is 2.7% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($11,038 vs. $10,748).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both CMA and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.
• Typical fall application deadline: CMA Dec 15, 2026; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at CMA average a 3.43 high school GPA, 0.1 higher than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (3.33).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at CMA vs. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State Polytechnic University Humboldt graduates have a $6,026 lower median loan debt than CMA graduates ($19,500 vs. $25,526).
• Among borrowers, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMA graduates ($201 vs. $263).
• More CMA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation (79% vs. 56%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.