UCSD vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California San Diego in La Jolla, 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 San Diego is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (44,256 students vs. 6,237 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California San Diego is located in La Jolla, CA (Large City setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
• University of California San Diego 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 San Diego 19:1; 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 25.6% lower than at University of California San Diego ($14,118 vs. $18,970).
• Out-of-state tuition is 144.4% higher at UCSD than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (about $30,108 more per year; $50,958 vs. $20,850).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt than at University of California San Diego (66% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California San Diego students is 139.6% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($25,757 vs. $10,748).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 10 points higher at UCSD than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (31 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both UCSD and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSD Nov 30, 2026; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at UCSD 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 20.4% at UCSD vs. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California San Diego graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($18,500 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, UCSD graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($191 vs. $201).
• More UCSD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation (82% vs. 56%).

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