Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt #395 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt sits in the 63.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting how consistently graduates outperform what similar students earn at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt #210 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Students at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt earn more than similar students at comparable institutions, a pattern that holds across the university's distinctive mix of natural resources, environmental science, and applied programs. Graduates earn median $51,571 four years after enrollment, placing California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt in the 11.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — a result that reflects both the institution's program focus and its ability to move graduates into careers with durable earning power.
Azimuth ranks California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt #395 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Arcata, CA, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt enrolls roughly 5,612 undergraduates. Retention stands at 76.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 48.5%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored by what California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt does with its graduates. Graduates earn about $1,210 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt in the 63.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Natural Resources shapes this outcome — a field where graduates enter specialized labor markets that reward the credential more than raw institutional prestige does. Azimuth ranks California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt #1149 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability add further texture to the composite. 42.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 44.1% are first-generation college students, signaling that California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt draws heavily from families without prior college experience — a population that benefits most from institutions where earnings outcomes hold up relative to expectations. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt sits in the 70.6 percentile for access, the 86.4 percentile for affordability, and the 85.9 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a profile where broad enrollment and field-specific career alignment combine to drive the composite position.
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's published cost of attendance is $25,170. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $8,483, middle-income families pay around $11,088, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,228. Azimuth ranks California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt #195 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the sticker price and the debt load graduates carry, shaped by Cal Poly Humboldt's public-tuition structure and the aid available to students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,257; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $51,571, median federal debt of $18,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $203 under standard ten-year repayment. Families should weigh any Parent PLUS obligations against need-based aid and non-loan financing alternatives before borrowing. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is a strong fit for students drawn to natural resources, environmental science, and related applied fields who want a public university experience in northern CA with a clear connection to land, ecology, and regional stewardship careers. Graduates earn in the 11.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt sits in the 63.7 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $1,210 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a meaningful signal for a regionally focused institution with a specialized program mix. The access profile is broad. 42.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 44.1% are first-generation college students, and California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt sits in the 32.5 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions on a historical 10-year Scorecard measure — suggesting the institution delivers meaningful outcomes for students from lower-income backgrounds who pursue its core fields. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Natural Resources and adjacent disciplines, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking broad professional or business-oriented pathways may find a better match elsewhere. The campus is in a rural coastal setting in Arcata, CA, which suits students who want proximity to field-based learning environments but requires comfort with geographic distance from major metropolitan labor markets.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's published cost of attendance is $25,170. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $8,483, middle-income families pay around $11,088, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,228.
Azimuth ranks California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt #195 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the sticker price and the debt load graduates carry, shaped by Cal Poly Humboldt's public-tuition structure and the aid available to students.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $18,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $18,257; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $51,571, median federal debt of $18,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $203 under standard ten-year repayment.
Families should weigh any Parent PLUS obligations against need-based aid and non-loan financing alternatives before borrowing. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $51,571, placing California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt in the 11.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $1,210 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt in the 63.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt #1149 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's dominant focus on Natural Resources shapes a graduate cohort that tends to enter fields where earnings are tied closely to regional labor markets and public-sector employment, which is reflected in the overall earnings profile relative to $56,249 at comparable institutions.
The program lineup at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt is anchored by Natural Resources Conservation and Research, which combines meaningful cohort scale with the strongest aggregate earnings contribution of any program at the institution. Psychology, General is the largest program by graduate count (143 graduates), with four-year median earnings of $45,889, and Azimuth ranks it #223 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Natural Resources Conservation and Research (141 graduates, $50,915 median four-year earnings) and Business Administration (110 graduates, $60,005) round out the largest programs by scale, reflecting the institution's concentration in Social Sciences (9% of graduates) and Business (7%). Among the highest-earning programs, Biology, General ($55,707) and Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management ($47,003) offer the strongest early-career salary upside at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt, with Azimuth ranking Biology, General #207 and Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management #4 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of Illinois Springfield Similar quality tier (#15214 ranked) | IL | 86% | $57,103 | #15214 | Compare |
The University Of Tennessee-Chattanooga Similar quality tier (#15232 ranked) | TN | 81% | $51,151 | #15232 | Compare |
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg Similar quality tier (#15234 ranked) | PA | 98% | $63,435 | #15234 | Compare |
Northeastern State University Similar quality tier (#15236 ranked) | OK | 100% | $45,379 | #15236 | Compare |
South Dakota School Of Mines And Technology Similar quality tier (#15197 ranked) | SD | 80% | $72,257 | #15197 | Compare |
Forestry
34 graduates
Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering
51 graduates
Computer Science
28 graduates
Economics
11 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
110 graduates
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's program mix is anchored in natural resources, environmental sciences, and applied ecology — a signature that reflects the university's identity as a polytechnic institution embedded in California's North Coast. Natural Resources forms the core of degree output, with additional concentration in biological sciences, social sciences, and environmental engineering.
Across 42 programs serving roughly 1,573 students annually, the institution's strongest outcomes cluster in fields that translate directly into resource management, conservation, and environmental policy careers. The program combining the broadest enrollment with competitive earnings is Natural Resources Conservation and Research, which anchors the university's economic profile by pairing meaningful cohort scale with solid four-year outcomes.
Among the most popular programs, Psychology, General program graduates 143 students with median earnings of $45,889 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #223 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Natural Resources Conservation and Research and Business Administration round out the high-enrollment tier, each feeding graduates into fields where regional employer demand — state and federal agencies, environmental consulting, and land management — remains steady.
The highest-earning programs at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt reflect the institution's applied-science orientation. Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering leads with median earnings of $78,225 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #13 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Business Administration follows with graduates earning $60,005, and Azimuth ranks it #245 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These programs connect to the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) in environmental and resource sectors, where federal and state hiring pipelines provide durable demand for graduates with field-ready technical training.
