California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs. San Diego State

California State Polytechnic University Humboldt and San Diego State University side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

California State Polytechnic University Humboldt
San Diego State University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: San Diego State (36.2% admitted vs 98.2%). Typical SAT 1200 vs 1080.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $14,090 at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs $14,704 at San Diego State. San Diego State in-state tuition is about $478 more per year.
  • Graduation: California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 40% vs San Diego State 66%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $39,000 vs San Diego State $53,400 (median).
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Key differences

California State Polytechnic University Humboldt San Diego State University
Acceptance rate
San Diego State more selective
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt98.2%
San Diego State36.2%
SAT range (middle 50%)
San Diego State higher
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt970-1190
San Diego State1090-1300
Average net price
About even
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt$14,090
San Diego State$14,704
In-state tuition
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $478 less
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt$8,250
San Diego State$8,728
Out-of-state tuition
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $478 less
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt$20,850
San Diego State$21,328
Graduation rate
San Diego State +26 pts
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt40%
San Diego State66%
Median earnings (10 years)
San Diego State +$14,400
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt$39,000
San Diego State$53,400

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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Check my chances at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Check my chances at San Diego State
  • Admission chances
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt My Chances
  • San Diego State My Chances
  • Applied
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 15,725
  • San Diego State 89,972
  • Admitted
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 15,442
  • San Diego State 32,561
  • Acceptance rate
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 98.2%
  • San Diego State 36.2%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 5.9%
  • San Diego State 20.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 1080
  • San Diego State 1200
  • Typical ACT score
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 21
  • San Diego State 25
  • Average high school GPA
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 3.33
  • San Diego State 3.82
  • Typical high school grades
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt B+
  • San Diego State A-
  • Admissions standards
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Easy
  • San Diego State Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
  • San Diego State High
  • SAT range
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 970-1190
  • San Diego State 1090-1300
  • ACT range
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 17-25
  • San Diego State 22-29
  • Submit test scores
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Test-free
  • San Diego State Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027
  • San Diego State Nov 30, 2026
  • Tuition (in state)
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $8,250
  • San Diego State $8,728
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $20,850
  • San Diego State $21,328
  • Room & board
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $14,118
  • San Diego State $23,030
  • Average net price
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $14,090
  • San Diego State $14,704
  • Average grant aid
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $10,748
  • San Diego State $12,053
  • % receiving grant aid
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 66%
  • San Diego State 47%
  • Graduation rate
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 40%
  • San Diego State 66%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $39,000
  • San Diego State $53,400
  • Making student loan payments
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 56%
  • San Diego State 65%
  • Median student loan debt
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $19,500
  • San Diego State $15,349
  • Median loan payment
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $201
  • San Diego State $158
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 16:1
  • San Diego State 27:1
  • Popular majors
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
    • Natural Resources Conservation (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • San Diego State
    • Business (23%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Location
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata, CA
  • San Diego State San Diego, CA
  • Setting
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Remote Town
  • San Diego State Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 6,237
  • San Diego State 41,137
  • Type
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Public 4 Year
  • San Diego State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt #787
  • San Diego State #353

Comparable Facts

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

San Diego State University is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (41,137 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); San Diego State University is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
  • California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. San Diego State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 16:1; San Diego State University 27:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt are 38.7% lower than at San Diego State University ($14,118 vs. $23,030).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at San Diego State than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (about $478 more per year; $21,328 vs. $20,850).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt than at San Diego State University (66% vs. 47%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by San Diego State University students is 12.1% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($12,053 vs. $10,748).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at San Diego State than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (25 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt and San Diego State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027; San Diego State Nov 30, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at San Diego State average a 3.82 high school GPA, 0.49 higher than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (3.33).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs. 20.4% at San Diego State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, San Diego State University graduates have a $4,151 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($15,349 vs. $19,500).
  • Among borrowers, San Diego State graduates have an estimated $43 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($158 vs. $201).
  • More San Diego State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation (65% vs. 56%).

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

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