CSU vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Chico in Chico, 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 University Chico is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (15,257 students vs. 6,237 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Chico is located in Chico, CA (Small City setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
• California State University Chico 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 Chico 23:1; 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 14.4% lower than at California State University Chico ($14,118 vs. $16,500).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at CSU than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (about $222 more per year; $21,072 vs. $20,850).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at California State University Chico as at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (66% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Chico students is 7.1% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($11,509 vs. $10,748).

Admissions details

• Incoming CSU students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 21) as students at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (21).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both CSU and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.
• Typical fall application deadline: CSU Dec 15, 2026; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at CSU average a 3.37 high school GPA, 0.04 higher than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (3.33).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.2% at CSU vs. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Chico graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($17,000 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, CSU graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($175 vs. $201).
• More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation (70% vs. 56%).

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