University of South Alabama vs. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

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

University of South Alabama
California State Polytechnic University Humboldt

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: University of South Alabama (71% admitted vs 98.2%). Typical SAT 1080 vs 1080.
  • Cheaper after aid: California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt. Average net price is $14,090 vs $16,074 at University of South Alabama.
  • Graduation: University of South Alabama 39% vs California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 40%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: University of South Alabama $45,200 vs California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $39,000 (median).
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Key differences

University of South Alabama California State Polytechnic University Humboldt
Acceptance rate
University of South Alabama more selective
University of South Alabama71%
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt98.2%
SAT range (middle 50%)
University of South Alabama higher
University of South Alabama970-1190
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt970-1190
Average net price
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $1,984 less
University of South Alabama$16,074
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt$14,090
In-state tuition
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $1,866 less
University of South Alabama$10,116
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt$8,250
Out-of-state tuition
University of South Alabama $1,758 less
University of South Alabama$19,092
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt$20,850
Graduation rate
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt +1 pts
University of South Alabama39%
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt40%
Median earnings (10 years)
University of South Alabama +$6,200
University of South Alabama$45,200
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt$39,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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Check my chances at University of South Alabama Check my chances at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
  • Admission chances
  • University of South Alabama My Chances
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt My Chances
  • Applied
  • University of South Alabama 12,982
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 15,725
  • Admitted
  • University of South Alabama 9,212
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 15,442
  • Acceptance rate
  • University of South Alabama 71%
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 98.2%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • University of South Alabama 21%
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 5.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of South Alabama 1080
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of South Alabama 23
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 21
  • Average high school GPA
  • University of South Alabama 3.69
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 3.33
  • Typical high school grades
  • University of South Alabama A-
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt B+
  • Admissions standards
  • University of South Alabama Easy
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Easy
  • Applicant competition
  • University of South Alabama Low
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
  • SAT range
  • University of South Alabama 970-1190
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 970-1190
  • ACT range
  • University of South Alabama 20-26
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 17-25
  • Submit test scores
  • University of South Alabama Test optional
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • University of South Alabama Jul 15, 2027
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • University of South Alabama $10,116
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $8,250
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • University of South Alabama $19,092
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $20,850
  • Room & board
  • University of South Alabama $11,366
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $14,118
  • Average net price
  • University of South Alabama $16,074
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $14,090
  • Average grant aid
  • University of South Alabama $9,329
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $10,748
  • % receiving grant aid
  • University of South Alabama 96%
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 66%
  • Graduation rate
  • University of South Alabama 39%
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 40%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • University of South Alabama $45,200
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $39,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • University of South Alabama 45%
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 56%
  • Median student loan debt
  • University of South Alabama $24,500
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $19,500
  • Median loan payment
  • University of South Alabama $253
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt $201
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • University of South Alabama 19:1
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • University of South Alabama
    • Health Professions (27%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Engineering (6%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • 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
  • University of South Alabama Mobile, AL
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Arcata, CA
  • Setting
  • University of South Alabama Midsize City
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • University of South Alabama 14,003
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt 6,237
  • Type
  • University of South Alabama Public 4 Year
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • University of South Alabama #770
  • California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt #787

Comparable Facts

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

University of South Alabama is larger than California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt based on total student enrollment (14,003 students vs. 6,237 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of South Alabama is located in Mobile, AL (Midsize City setting); California State Polytechnic University Humboldt is in Arcata, CA (Remote Town setting).
  • University of South Alabama 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 South Alabama 19:1; California State Polytechnic University Humboldt 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Alabama are 19.5% lower than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt ($11,366 vs. $14,118).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.2% higher at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt than at University of South Alabama (about $1,758 more per year; $20,850 vs. $19,092).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Alabama than at California State Polytechnic University Humboldt (96% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California State Polytechnic University Humboldt students is 15.2% larger than aid received by University of South Alabama students ($10,748 vs. $9,329).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at University of South Alabama than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (23 vs. 21, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at University of South Alabama, test-free at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of South Alabama Jul 15, 2027; California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt Apr 30, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at University of South Alabama average a 3.69 high school GPA, 0.36 higher than at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (3.33).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21% at University of South Alabama 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 $5,000 lower median loan debt than University of South Alabama graduates ($19,500 vs. $24,500).
  • Among borrowers, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than University of South Alabama graduates ($201 vs. $253).
  • More California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of South Alabama students, three years after graduation (56% vs. 45%).

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

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