Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt is a public regional university located in Arcata, California. Cal Poly Humboldt is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Cal Poly Humboldt is in the bottom 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $42,726 10 years after enrolling, 93rd in California, and in the bottom 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Cal Poly Humboldt bachelor students earn 13% less than the national average. Cal Poly Humboldt is ranked 69th in California.
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt’s median net annual cost of $14,956 and average years to graduate of 4.8 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Cal Poly Humboldt sorted by number of graduates - Psychology, Natural Resource Conservation, Business Administration, Biology, Wildlife science Mgmt., Health & Fitness - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$14,956
Average years to graduate
4.8
Environmental Engineering
Rank: #13
Economic score: 1.99
Computer Science
Rank: #167
Economic score: 2.13
Forestry
Rank: #10
Economic score: 3.32
Social Work
Rank: #53
Economic score: 3.91
History
Rank: #91
Economic score: 4.49
English Language & Lit
Rank: #381
Economic score: 18.67
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: #254
Economic score: 36
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
Rank: #114
Economic score: 36.21
Anthropology
Rank: #128
Economic score: 38.53
Fine & Studio Arts
Rank: #314
Economic score: 489.91
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 5 graduate programs at Cal Poly Humboldt - Social Work, Natural Resource Conservation, Psychology, Health & Fitness, Biology - are shown below.
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.8 years. 65% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Cal Poly Humboldt is 3% lower than the state average, and 7% above the average for all regional universities in the country.
At Cal Poly Humboldt, Pell Grant recipients represent 51% of the measured graduating class, 16% higher than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Cal Poly Humboldt graduates within 4.9 years.
Cal Poly Humboldt is in the top 5% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt’s economic mobility score of 23.42 is calculated by adjusting the 4.03 economic score of lower-income students by the 51% pell grant recipients within the student body. Cal Poly Humboldt’s EMS of 23.42 ranks in the top 25% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 25%
The average Title IV recipient at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt pays $14,956 a year, $10,602 less than the $25,558 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $14,956
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Cal Poly Humboldt, 75% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $14,956 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 36% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $5,275. This is 18% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$4,831
Pell grants
$4,719
State grants
$2,232
Institutional grants
$5,811
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt offers 1 hybrid bachelor program. At the master’s level Cal Poly Humboldt offers 2 programs, one of which is held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
3
Hybrid programs
2
Percentage of programs online
4%
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 91% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 7,013 applicants, of which 6,414 were admitted and 629 enrolled. Cal Poly Humboldt has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
96%
83%
Female
59%
59%
First time
53%
59%
In-state
92%
68%
1st generation
44%
35%
White
44%
52%
Black
4%
14%
Hispanic
34%
15%
Asian
3%
5%
American Indian
1%
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
13%
12%