California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Merced is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (9,110 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); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 16:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt are 34.2% lower than at University of California Merced ($14,118 vs. $21,445).
• Out-of-state tuition is 139% higher at UC Merced than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (about $28,973 more per year; $49,823 vs. $20,850).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of California Merced than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (89% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 153.9% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($27,292 vs. $10,748).

Admissions details

• Incoming California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 21) as students at UC Merced (21).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt and UC Merced.
• Typical fall application deadline: California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at UC Merced average a 3.55 high school GPA, 0.22 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. 7.2% at UC Merced.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State Polytechnic University Humboldt graduates have a $399 lower median loan debt than UC Merced graduates ($19,500 vs. $19,899).
• Among borrowers, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates have an estimated $4 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UC Merced graduates ($201 vs. $205).
• More UC Merced 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.