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Arcata, CA · Merced, CA
| California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt | University of California-Merced | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $13,171/yr | $11,983/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $8,483/yr | $7,945/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $18,000 | $16,144 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $8,812/yr | $8,465/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $11,088/yr | $11,557/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $15,593/yr | $14,828/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $22,228/yr | $28,734/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $191/mo | $171/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $14,118/yr | $21,445/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $14,432/yr | $12,999/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $870/yr | $1,046/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $4,332/yr | $5,852/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $25,170/yr | $39,665/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $8,250/yr | $15,623/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $20,850/yr | $49,823/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 43% | 59% |
| Students taking federal loans | 34% | 29% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 98% | 91% |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 14,019 | 67,891 |
| Students accepted | 13,855 | 26,598 |
| Students who enrolled | 955 | 2,416 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 6.9% | 9.1% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Not considered |
| Class rank | Not considered | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Not considered | Not considered |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 49% | 69% |
| Freshmen who come back | 76% | 82% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $47,626/yr | $64,368/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $27,312–$69,390 | $42,064–$95,770 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 63% | 70% |
| White students graduating | 55% | 67% |
| Black students graduating | 35% | 67% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 42% | 67% |
| Asian students graduating | 36% | 75% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $37,382/yr | $48,475/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 62% | No data reported |
| Graduate on time | 26% | 51% |
| Pell students who graduate | 43% | 68% |
| First-gen students who finish | 56% | 69% |
| Low-income students who finish | 56% | 68% |
| Students who transfer out | 5.8% | 11% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $44,299/yr | $56,207/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Natural Resources & Conservation 22% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 11% · Social Sciences 9% | Engineering 23% · Psychology 19% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 17% |
| Most popular program | Natural Resources & Conservation — 22% of degrees | Engineering — 23% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 11% of degrees | Psychology — 19% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Social Sciences — 9% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 17% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Psychology — 9% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 11% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 7% of degrees | Social Sciences — 11% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Natural Resources Conservation and Research — $63,768/yr | Mechanical Engineering — $67,096/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 20% | 45% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 5,612 | 8,372 |
| Students per professor | 16 : 1 | 20 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 576 | 738 |
| Average professor pay | $11,900/mo | $14,834/mo |
| Full-time professors | 52% | 93% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission |
| Median family income | $26,596 | $33,931 |
| Setting | Town (remote) | Suburb (midsize) |
| Location | Arcata, CA | Merced, CA |
| Region | Far West | Far West |
| Founded | 1913 | 2002 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Men | 46% | 55% |
| Women | 54% | 45% |
| White students | 52% | 9.2% |
| Black students | 2.6% | 5.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 29% | 55% |
| Asian students | 3.2% | 24% |
| Two or more races | 7.5% | 4.6% |
| Other / not reported | 6.3% | 1.6% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 44% | 57% |
| Part-time students | 12% | 1.6% |
| Students age 25+ | 23% | 2.3% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $18,064/yr | $12,647/yr |
| Endowment | $39.7M | $32.7M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,191 | 4,341 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,624/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan charge | $5,880/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | 19 meals/week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | Land-grant institution |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | Yes | Yes |
| ROTC | No | Yes — Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | No |
| Teacher certification | Yes | No |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | No |
| On-campus day care | Yes | Yes |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | No | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | No |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II without football | NAIA Division II |
| Football team | No | No |
| Varsity teams | 13 | 12 |
| Student athletes | 310 | 210 |
| Athletic scholarships | $1.5M | $276,000 |
| Athletics budget | $8.6M | $3.7M |
| Athletics revenue | $8.7M | $3.8M |
| Recruiting spend | $163,023 | $15,372 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.