Cal State Fullerton vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Fullerton in Fullerton, 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 Fullerton is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (43,662 students vs. 6,237 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Fullerton is located in Fullerton, CA (Midsize City setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
• California State University Fullerton 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 Fullerton 26:1; 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 26% lower than at California State University Fullerton ($14,118 vs. $19,080).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.9% higher at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt than at California State University Fullerton (about $780 more per year; $20,850 vs. $20,070).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Fullerton than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (78% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Fullerton students is 4.5% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($11,234 vs. $10,748).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt than at Cal State Fullerton (21 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Cal State Fullerton and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Fullerton Nov 30, 2026; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Cal State Fullerton average a 3.77 high school GPA, 0.44 higher than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (3.33).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.2% at Cal State Fullerton vs. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Fullerton graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($15,000 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Cal State Fullerton graduates have an estimated $46 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($155 vs. $201).
• More Cal State Fullerton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation (69% vs. 56%).

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