Sacramento State vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Sacramento in Sacramento, 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 Sacramento is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (31,943 students vs. 6,237 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Sacramento is located in Sacramento, CA (Large City setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
• California State University Sacramento 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 Sacramento 24:1; 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 26.4% lower than at California State University Sacramento ($14,118 vs. $19,174).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt than at California State University Sacramento (about $232 more per year; $20,850 vs. $20,618).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University Sacramento than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (82% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Sacramento students is 18.8% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($12,767 vs. $10,748).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt than at Sacramento State (21 vs. 20, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Sacramento State and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.
• Typical fall application deadline: Sacramento State Nov 30, 2026; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Sacramento State average a 3.42 high school GPA, 0.09 higher than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (3.33).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.3% at Sacramento State vs. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Sacramento graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($15,750 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, Sacramento State graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($162 vs. $201).
• More Sacramento State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation (64% vs. 56%).

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