UCSC vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

University of California Santa Cruz and California State Polytechnic University Humboldt side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

University of California Santa Cruz
California State Polytechnic University Humboldt

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UCSC (65.8% admitted vs 98.2%). Typical SAT 1260 vs 1080.
  • Cheaper after aid: California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt. Average net price is $14,090 vs $18,059 at UCSC.
  • Graduation: UCSC 73% vs California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 40%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UCSC $50,400 vs California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $39,000 (median).
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Key differences

University of California Santa Cruz California State Polytechnic University Humboldt
Acceptance rate
UCSC more selective
UCSC65.8%
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt98.2%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UCSC higher
UCSC1160-1360
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt970-1190
Average net price
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $3,969 less
UCSC$18,059
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt$14,090
In-state tuition
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $7,755 less
UCSC$16,005
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt$8,250
Out-of-state tuition
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $29,355 less
UCSC$50,205
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt$20,850
Graduation rate
UCSC +33 pts
UCSC73%
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt40%
Median earnings (10 years)
UCSC +$11,400
UCSC$50,400
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt$39,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UCSC 71,722
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 15,725
  • Admitted
  • UCSC 47,186
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 15,442
  • Acceptance rate
  • UCSC 65.8%
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 98.2%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UCSC 9.3%
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 5.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UCSC 1260
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • UCSC 29
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 21
  • Average high school GPA
  • UCSC 3.63
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 3.33
  • Typical high school grades
  • UCSC A-
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt B+
  • Admissions standards
  • UCSC Very High
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • UCSC Low
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
  • SAT range
  • UCSC 1160-1360
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 970-1190
  • ACT range
  • UCSC 25-33
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 17-25
  • Submit test scores
  • UCSC Test-free
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • UCSC Nov 30, 2026
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UCSC $16,005
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $8,250
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UCSC $50,205
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $20,850
  • Room & board
  • UCSC $19,948
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $14,118
  • Average net price
  • UCSC $18,059
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $14,090
  • Average grant aid
  • UCSC $22,774
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $10,748
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UCSC 57%
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 66%
  • Graduation rate
  • UCSC 73%
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 40%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UCSC $50,400
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $39,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • UCSC 74%
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 56%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UCSC $19,959
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $19,500
  • Median loan payment
  • UCSC $206
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $201
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UCSC 22:1
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • UCSC
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Business (9%)
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
    • Natural Resources Conservation (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Location
  • UCSC Santa Cruz, CA
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata, CA
  • Setting
  • UCSC Small City
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • UCSC 19,938
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 6,237
  • Type
  • UCSC Public 4 Year
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UCSC #255
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt #787

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, 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 Cruz is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (19,938 students vs. 6,237 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of California Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, CA (Small City setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
  • University of California Santa Cruz 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 Cruz 22:1; 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 29.2% lower than at University of California Santa Cruz ($14,118 vs. $19,948).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 140.8% higher at UCSC than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (about $29,355 more per year; $50,205 vs. $20,850).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt than at University of California Santa Cruz (66% vs. 57%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Santa Cruz students is 111.9% larger than aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students ($22,774 vs. $10,748).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 8 points higher at UCSC than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (29 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both UCSC and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UCSC Nov 30, 2026; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at UCSC average a 3.63 high school GPA, 0.3 higher than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (3.33).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.3% at UCSC vs. 5.9% at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California State Polytechnic University Humboldt graduates have a $459 lower median loan debt than UCSC graduates ($19,500 vs. $19,959).
  • Among borrowers, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UCSC graduates ($201 vs. $206).
  • More UCSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt students, three years after graduation (74% 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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