UC Berkeley vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Berkeley is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (45,882 students vs. 6,237 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Berkeley is located in Berkeley, CA (Midsize City setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
• University of California Berkeley 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: University of California Berkeley 18:1; 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 40.6% lower than at University of California Berkeley ($14,118 vs. $23,750).
• Out-of-state tuition is 142.4% higher at UC Berkeley than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (about $29,697 more per year; $50,547 vs. $20,850).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt than at University of California Berkeley (66% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Berkeley students is 175.5% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($29,608 vs. $10,748).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 11 points higher at UC Berkeley than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (32 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both UC Berkeley and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.
• Typical fall application deadline: UC Berkeley Nov 30, 2026; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at UC Berkeley average a 3.87 high school GPA, 0.54 higher than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (3.33).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46% at UC Berkeley vs. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Berkeley graduates have a $5,300 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($14,200 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, UC Berkeley graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($146 vs. $201).
• More UC Berkeley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation (79% vs. 56%).

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