Cal State LA vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Los Angeles in Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (23,163 students vs. 6,237 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
• California State University Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 21:1; 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 28.3% lower than at California State University Los Angeles ($14,118 vs. $19,696).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt than at California State University Los Angeles (about $1,090 more per year; $20,850 vs. $19,760).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Los Angeles than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (94% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Los Angeles students is 28.6% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($13,824 vs. $10,748).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt than at Cal State LA (21 vs. 17, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Cal State LA and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt average a 3.33 high school GPA, 0.02 higher than at Cal State LA (3.31).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Cal State LA vs. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Los Angeles graduates have a $6,580 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($12,920 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Cal State LA graduates have an estimated $68 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($133 vs. $201).
• More Cal State LA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation (57% vs. 56%).

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