Cal State Long Beach vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Long Beach in Long Beach, 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 Long Beach is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (42,003 students vs. 6,237 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Long Beach is located in Long Beach, CA (Large City setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
• California State University Long Beach 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 Long Beach 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 9.6% lower than at California State University Long Beach ($14,118 vs. $15,612).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.5% higher at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt than at California State University Long Beach (about $900 more per year; $20,850 vs. $19,950).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Long Beach than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (76% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Long Beach students is 9.7% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($11,795 vs. $10,748).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Cal State Long Beach than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (23 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Cal State Long Beach and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State Long Beach Nov 30, 2026; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Cal State Long Beach average a 3.7 high school GPA, 0.37 higher than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (3.33).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at Cal State Long Beach vs. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Long Beach 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 Long Beach 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 Long Beach 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.