UCSB vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (26,133 students vs. 6,237 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
• University of California Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara 17:1; 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 30.4% lower than at University of California Santa Barbara ($14,118 vs. $20,279).
• Out-of-state tuition is 142.8% higher at UCSB than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (about $29,764 more per year; $50,614 vs. $20,850).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt than at University of California Santa Barbara (66% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Barbara students is 129.8% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($24,695 vs. $10,748).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 10 points higher at UCSB than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (31 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both UCSB and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCSB Nov 30, 2026; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at UCSB 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 13.8% at UCSB vs. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Santa Barbara graduates have a $3,049 lower median loan debt than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($16,451 vs. $19,500).
• Among borrowers, UCSB graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates ($170 vs. $201).
• More UCSB graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation (73% vs. 56%).

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