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Arcata , CA
California Polytechnic University, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt) is a public university located in Arcata, California. Established in 1914, Cal Poly Humboldt is part of the renowned California State University (CSU) system. The university is well-known for its strong emphasis on hands-on learning, engineering, and agriculture programs.
Cal Poly Humboldt offers a wide range of academic programs across six colleges: College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, College of Natural Resources & Sciences, College of Professional Studies, College of Education & Early Childhood Studies, College of Extended Education & Global Engagement, and College of Extended & International Education. The university prides itself on its innovative curriculum, which blends theoretical knowledge with practical experience through its signature "Learn by Doing" approach.
The campus of Cal Poly Humboldt is nestled in the midst of the breathtaking redwood forests on California's North Coast. With its idyllic location, the university provides numerous opportunities for students to explore the natural beauty of the area and engage in outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, and fishing. Cal Poly Humboldt's commitment to sustainability is evident in its campus practices, academic programs, and research initiatives, making it an ideal choice for environmentally conscious students. Overall, Cal Poly Humboldt offers a unique learning experience that combines academic rigor with a rich natural environment, preparing students for successful careers in their chosen fields.
Located in Arcata, CA and set in a rural environment, California Polytechnic University, Humboldt is a public comprehensive higher education institution. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 91%. The freshman retention rate at California Polytechnic University, Humboldt is 76% and the six-year graduation rate is 49%.
For transfer students, the application deadline is November 30.
To find out more about what California Polytechnic University, Humboldt has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
5,474
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
49%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Check out some essential info about admission at California Polytechnic University, Humboldt.
According to the most recent data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 15,358 in 2025. California Polytechnic University, Humboldt has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
12.21% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 1.54% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 4.5% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 37.84% between 1,200 and 1,399, 34.23% between 1,000 and 1,199, 18.02% between 800 and 999, and 5.41% between 600 and 799. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 30.77, 46.15 between 24-29 and 23.08 in the range between 18-23.
The average ACT score for all the admitted students in 2025 was 27 while the average GPA was 3.42. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission, as well as an above-average ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 583 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 544. For transfer students, the application deadline is November 30.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for California Polytechnic University, Humboldt was 76% in 2025, a reflection of the high standards and excellent educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 49%.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. Obtaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at California Polytechnic University, Humboldt in 2025 was 6,045.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 6.35% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 5,474, 35 of which were international students. The school admitted a total of 848 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 2,309 male and 2,846 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 201 Asian students and 194 Afro-American students in 2025. 1,086 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 565 identified with more than one race. The school also had 40 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 162 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 143 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at California Polytechnic University, Humboldt that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $6,084. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $18,684 in 2025. If you are an international student at California Polytechnic University, Humboldt, you should know that the 2025 tuition amounted to $18,684, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $2,312 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $18,684 | $2,312 | $20,996 |
| In-State | $6,084 | $2,312 | $8,396 |
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to consider is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. The approximate price of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $870.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at colleges and universities?
In 2025, room and board cost at California Polytechnic University, Humboldt amounted to $13,438 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 reached $7,322 for one academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 6,084 |
| Room and Board | $ 13,438 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 870 |
| Total Expense | $ 20,392 |
Financial Aid
Financial help for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid you might get at California Polytechnic University, Humboldt.
The most recent records show that 483 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $18,593 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
2,793 students were given some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at California Polytechnic University, Humboldt isn't available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 3,196. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $15,293,756, and state $7,845,660. The students of California Polytechnic University, Humboldt received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $11,357,267, and external in the amount of $1,736,887.
$1,080
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 56 students overall (including freshmen) at California Polytechnic University, Humboldt in 2025. 5 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $236,996. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $610,888 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at California Polytechnic University, Humboldt: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some info about social life at California Polytechnic University, Humboldt.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
This school has 140 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. This number includes sororities and fraternities. At this school, 1% of male students are members of social organizations, while that percentage is 1 for female students. If you are interested in music, you can join the California Polytechnic University, Humboldt band. If you have an interest in acting, there's a drama club you can be a part of. You have a passion for media and communication? California Polytechnic University, Humboldt publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At California Polytechnic University, Humboldt, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a round-the-clock security patrol. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of California Polytechnic University, Humboldt.
All in all, campus life at California Polytechnic University, Humboldt is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at California Polytechnic University, Humboldt.
Career Counselling
At California Polytechnic University, Humboldt, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library and job fairs. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students.
FAQ
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California Polytechnic University, Humboldt is located in Arcata, CA.
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California Polytechnic University, Humboldt doesn't offer need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for California Polytechnic University, Humboldt is 91%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for California Polytechnic University, Humboldt is 76%.
Contact Information
California Polytechnic University, Humboldt
1 Harpst Street
Arcata , CA
95521-8299
707 826-3011
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
