California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs. California State University-San Marcos

Comparable Facts

Compare California State Polytechnic University Humboldt in Arcata, CA with California State University San Marcos in San Marcos, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California State University San Marcos is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (16,237 students vs. 6,237 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is located in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting); California State University San Marcos is in San Marcos, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California State University San Marcos is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 16:1; California State University San Marcos 24:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt are 0.2% lower than at California State University San Marcos ($14,118 vs. $14,152).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt than at California State University San Marcos (about $168 more per year; $20,850 vs. $20,682).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State University San Marcos than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (71% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University San Marcos students is 3.5% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($11,123 vs. $10,748).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt than at California State University-San Marcos (21 vs. 19, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt and California State University-San Marcos.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027; California State University-San Marcos Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt average a 3.33 high school GPA, 0.01 higher than at California State University-San Marcos (3.32).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs. 14% at California State University-San Marcos.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University San Marcos graduates have a $1,505 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($17,995 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, California State University-San Marcos graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($186 vs. $201).
• More California State University-San Marcos graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation (66% vs. 56%).

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