Key Takeaways:
- Humboldt State University is now Cal Poly-Humboldt. The California state Legislature voted to turn it into a polytechnic institution that aims to bring economic growth to Humboldt County.
- It offers 58 bachelor’s degree programs, 14 master’s degree programs, 76 minors, and 4 credential programs. There are no doctoral programs at CalPoly Humboldt.
- Tuition at CalPoly Humboldt is $7.864 for in-state students and $19,744 for out-of-state students.
Degree Programs Available at Cal Poly Humboldt
Humboldt State University appears in our ranking of the 30 Best Colleges for Young Democrats.
With more than 40 majors available for undergrads, Cal Poly Humboldt lets students choose subjects that interest them and meet their future goals. It offers one of the only forestry programs in the state, which includes internship opportunities for students with forestry agencies. The environmental studies program is available with a general option or a focus in management, and the university also offers programs with similar classes in fisheries biology and environmental resource engineering. Some of the other majors students can choose include dance studies, child development, film, political science, and social work.
Featured Programs
To help students achieve their career goals and get practical training, Cal Poly Humboldt offers both credential and certificate programs. The certificate program in art museum and gallery practices teaches students how to manage art galleries and similar facilities. In the wildland fire management program, students learn how to identify issues and problems that can lead to fires and what they can do during a fire. Many of the university’s credential programs help students get teaching endorsements in fields such as adapted physical education and school psychology.
There are also 11 graduate degree programs available at Cal Poly Humboldt. The social work program includes an advanced standing option for students with a bachelor’s in social work. Majors in this program will take a variety of liberal arts classes and do several internships. The kinesiology program helps students become athletic trainers as they learn about the human body and other subjects. Students in the social sciences program will look at the environment and how it affects individuals living in a specific community. The other majors designed for graduate students include English, biology, business administration, applied anthropology, environmental systems, natural resources, psychology, and sociology.
About Cal Poly Humboldt
Cal Poly Humboldt is a public university that is part of the California State University System. Established in 1913 as the Humboldt State Normal College, it would become Humboldt State College in 1935. After joining the state’s university system, it adopted the name California State University, Humboldt, which it would keep until becoming Humboldt State University in 1974. But on January 26, 2022 The California State legislature voted to change HSU to Cal Poly Humboldt, California’s third polytechnic and the first in Northern California.
Though the university began life as a teaching school, it expanded that curriculum to include both training programs for current teachers and options for those working on a teaching degree. Students can also choose from dozens of majors at the undergrad, graduate, and post-graduate levels. U.S. News and World Report named Cal Poly Humboldt the 54th best university in the West, and Forbes ranked it as the 625th best college out of all schools in America. Cal Poly Humboldt also ranked in the 60th position on the list released by Washington Monthly of the nation’s top graduate schools. More than 8,500 students now study the degree programs available at Cal Poly Humboldt every year.
Cal Poly Humboldt Accreditation Details
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form that allows students to apply for financial aid for college without paying a dime. Students can only use the form if they attend a university that has regional accreditation, which Cal Poly Humboldt has from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). This is the same accreditation that gives students the right to get credit at Cal Poly Humboldt for the classes they already took at other schools. The university’s art, music, design, nursing, forestry, social work, technology, and engineering programs all have accreditation.
Cal Poly Humboldt Application Requirements
The Cal State application is an application that students applying to any university in the Cal State system need to complete. Undergrads should prepare for college while in high school and submit transcripts that show they completed the state’s minimum college-prep curriculum. This will include four years of English, three years of math, and two years of history, government, social studies, and science classes. Students should also take two years of a foreign language and at least one elective. Cal Poly Humboldt also asks that students prove they are California residents and that they apply for financial aid.
Graduate students will also need to use the Cal State application when they apply and pay a $55 application fee. All the other requirements they need to meet will depend on the program. The university’s MSW program includes a supplemental application that students need to complete in addition to the main application. They will also need to show that they have a bachelor’s degree in social work and a college grade point average of 3.5 or higher or that they have five years of social work experience to enroll in the advanced standing program. Most of the Cal Poly Humboldt graduate programs require three letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and a statement of purpose. The English program and others will also ask for a writing sample of at least 10 pages.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The total cost for undergrads who attend Cal Poly Humboldt is $24,910 per year. This includes the nearly $15,000 a year that they spend on a room and meal plan. Undergrads pay close to $4,000 each semester for their classes, but part-time students only pay $2,500 each semester. The cost for graduate students will range from $2,900 to $4,600 based on their enrollment status. These costs only apply to students who are California residents though. All other students will pay higher rates unless they qualify for the Western Undergraduate Exchange, which is available to those from Western states. Students in this program pay between $3,300 and $5,300 based on whether they enroll full-time or part-time.
With the FAFSA, students can get financial aid from Cal Poly Humboldt and both the state and federal governments. The university offers waivers that cover all the fees that students would otherwise pay and work positions for graduate students. Graduate students can work as consultants or assistants and receive pay based on the number of hours they work after they complete their training. These students can also get scholarships that cover the costs they face when doing internships and traveling to conferences. Cal Poly Humboldt offers financial aid for its undergrads, too, such as scholarships that they renew each year and a Pell grant. California offers some grants for students attending the university too. To get financial aid for any of the degree programs available at Cal Poly Humboldt, students must use the FAFSA.