California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Arcata, California · Public · 98.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 44/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt scores 44 (Below Benchmark). Outcomes are the bottleneck. 10-year median earnings of $47,626 produce a 24% earnings premium (sub-score 52) and a long 15.3-year payback period (sub-score 37). Median debt of $18,000 against those earnings yields a 0.60 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 52). Repayment at 68.4% (sub-score 36) is mediocre, and the 48.6% completion rate (sub-score 35) is the weakest input. The institutional pattern is distinctive: Humboldt's identity centers on environmental sciences, forestry, wildlife, and natural resources - programs that produce graduates whose earnings reflect public-sector and conservation-NGO employment rather than corporate placement. Strong outcomes show up in environmental engineering ($78,225 four-year), forestry ($79,849), and CS ($74,620), but the school's largest cohorts (psychology, natural resources, wildlife management) post weaker financial outcomes consistent with their career destinations.
How California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score44/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period15.3 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,250/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $20,850/yr |
| Average net price | $13,171/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $52,684 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,626 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $30,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $18,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $191 |
| Estimated payback period | 15.3 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 48.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 5,612 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $8,250/year ($20,850/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $13,171/year, or roughly $52,684 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $8,483/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,228/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $18,000, which works out to about $191 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($30,200) and comes to 0.60, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $8,483 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,812 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,088 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,593 |
| $110,001+ | $22,228 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $8,483 net annually, slightly below the $30,001-$48,000 bracket's $8,812 - a clean low-end progression. Over four years that is roughly $34,000 of cost. For Pell-eligible California students this is workable, particularly with Cal Grant aid; combined with relatively low $18,000 median debt, low-income students who finish are not crushed financially.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households at $48,001-$75,000 pay $11,088 and $75,001-$110,000 pays $15,593 - $44,000-$62,000 over four years. The math here is reasonable for environmental and STEM-track students; for psychology, history, and humanities students at the same price point, the 15.3-year payback period is sobering and major selection should be prioritized.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $22,228 net, or about $89,000 over four years. At full or near-full pay, Humboldt remains affordable by California standards.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $45,889 | C |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $50,915 | C+ |
| Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management | $47,003 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $60,005 | B |
| Biology | $55,707 | C |
| Social Work | $57,953 | C |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $55,222 | D |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $34,812 | D |
| Forestry | $79,849 | B |
| Computer Science | $74,620 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Forestry
Forestry is one of Humboldt's signature programs, taking direct advantage of the school's redwood-region location. Graduates earn $52,810 at one year and $79,849 at four years against $22,173 of debt - a 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B grade. With 44 graduates per year this is a strong cohort. Career paths span U.S. Forest Service, CAL FIRE, BLM, private forestry consulting, and timber-industry roles.
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Engineering graduates earn $55,589 at one year and $78,225 at four years against $24,350 of debt - a 0.44 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B grade. With 36 graduates per year this is a moderate cohort. California's strong environmental compliance and water-management labor market drives placement, with significant demand from the Bay Area and Sacramento agencies.
Psychology
Psychology is the single largest cohort at 153 graduates per year. Graduates earn $28,046 at one year and $45,889 at four years against a relatively low $16,200 of debt - a 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. The C grade rather than D reflects the modest debt load; absolute earnings are weak. As is typical for bachelor's psychology, well-paid clinical paths require master's or doctoral training.
Natural Resources Conservation
Natural Resources Conservation is the second-largest cohort at 120 graduates per year, defining Humboldt's environmental-school identity. Graduates earn $29,917 at one year and $50,915 at four years against $15,500 of debt - a 0.52 ratio and a C+ grade. Career paths span National Park Service, state parks, environmental consulting, and conservation NGOs - meaningful work but constrained earnings.
Wildlife and Wildlands Science and Management
Wildlife Management is a large and distinctive cohort at 98 graduates per year. Graduates earn $26,325 at one year and $47,003 at four years against $22,500 of debt - a 0.86 ratio and a D grade. The path is mission-driven (Fish & Wildlife agencies, conservation organizations); financial outcomes reflect the public/nonprofit nature of the labor market. PSLF eligibility is critical for graduates entering federal or state service.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 62.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 68.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 61.7% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 65.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 98.2% |
| Enrollment | 5,612 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 42.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,900 |
Humboldt admits 98.2% of applicants - effectively open admissions. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data. The 48.6% completion rate suggests significant attrition, which is the dominant financial risk for incoming students.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt (this school) | 44 | $13,171 | $47,626 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
| University of South Dakota | 50 | $19,858 | $51,926 |
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | 43 | $7,065 | $42,205 |
| Dalton State College | 41 | $5,012 | $40,251 |
Who Thrives Here
With 5,612 students, a 42.9% Pell rate, and a remote North Coast California location, Humboldt fits students who specifically want environmental sciences, forestry, marine biology, or wildlife management programs and value the redwood-region setting. Outcomes look strong for environmental engineering, forestry, business, and CS. The 153-graduate psychology cohort and 120-graduate natural resources cohort are the largest student concentrations and post C-level rather than B-level ROI grades. Mission alignment is the dominant fit factor here.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt scores 44/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $13,171 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $47,626 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 15.3 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: its 48.5% graduation rate, a three-year loan repayment rate of 68.4% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $18,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $30,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt: Common Questions
Is California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt scores 44/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $13,171 a year after aid against $47,626 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 15.3 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $13,171 a year, or roughly $52,684 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $47,626 ten years after enrolling, roughly $5,826 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 15.3 years for California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $18,000, against average earnings of $30,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?
The six-year graduation rate is 48.5%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.