Humboldt State University College Portrait
Humboldt State University1 Harpst Street Arcata, CA 95521
(707) 826-3011
Humboldt State University
At Humboldt State University, students enjoy an extraordinary college experience. They are part of a tight-knit community where learning takes place in small classes and professors know them by name. And they live in a beautiful area known for its redwood forests and expansive beaches. Humboldt State offers 47 majors and 84 minors. Programs in natural resources and sciences are nationally recognized, while the arts and business are also popular areas of study. HSU prides itself on its commitment to environmental responsibility and social justice. In 1987 students created the Graduation Pledge to inspire graduates to consider the social and environmental impact of their careers. This, along with programs like a student-run eco-demonstration house and student-led campus energy savings projects, contributed to HSU being named to Princeton Review's list of Green Colleges.
Living in the HSU Community
California’s North Coast is an outdoor adventurer’s paradise, and, for Humboldt State students, it’s also a laboratory for learning. Students picnic at the same beaches where they study marine life, and they learn from the world’s foremost expert on redwood canopies. They do film shoots, wildlife studies and archaeological digs. They carry out projects on the Coral Sea, the only research vessel in America used primarily for undergraduate research. They work with leading experts in sustainable energy at the Schatz Energy Research Center and they study the stars at the campus observatory. Humboldt State’s hometown of Arcata is a vibrant and welcoming community filled with music, art and festivals. It has been called one of the top college towns by Outside magazine and a “next great adventure town
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 7,903 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 7,297 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 3,927 | 54% |
| Men | 3,370 | 46% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 102 | 1% |
| Asian | 212 | 3% |
| African American / Black | 221 | 3% |
| Hispanic | 1,311 | 18% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 30 | <1% |
| White | 3,936 | 54% |
| Two or More Races | 343 | 5% |
| International | 85 | 1% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 1,057 | 14% |
| Where do HSU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| California | 87% |
| Other US States & Territories | 12% |
| Other Countries | 1% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are HSU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 22 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 18% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 19 - 25 | |
| Math | 17 - 24 | 450 - 570 |
| English | 18 - 25 | |
| Critical Reading | 460 - 580 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 38% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 82% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 58% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.17 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 100% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2009-10 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $21,100
Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend Humboldt State University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 48% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $8,587. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 44% of 2009-10 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $4,252. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2009-2010 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
HSU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 23 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 64% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 86% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 254 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 39% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 8% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 91% |
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Campus-based Housing
77% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
23% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
Humboldt State University has an on-campus Police Department with professionally trained officers and staff. In addition to law enforcement, its services include safety escorts, bicycle licensing, motorist assistance and crime prevention. All campus residence halls have staff available to assist students with a wide range of issues. An emergency notification system offers students and others the option to receive text message alerts on their cell phones. There are also courtesy phones throughout campus for direct contact with University Police 24 hours a day.
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Master's Colleges and Universities (medium programs)
- Size and Setting
- Medium four-year, primarily nonresidential
- Enrollment Profile
- Very high undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, more selective, higher transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Arts & sciences focus, some graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Postbaccalaureate comprehensive
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
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Student Activities and Involvement at HSU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 94% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 66% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 21% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 84% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 20% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 52% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 58% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 7% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 95% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 91% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 67% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 55% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 91% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 42% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 79% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 95% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 78% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 74% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 88% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 61% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 79% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 82% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 77% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at Humboldt State University in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 1,257 |
| Master's | 171 |
| Total | 1,428 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 10% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 6% |
| Biology, General | 6% |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 6% |
| Psychology, General | 5% |
| Links to degree programs at Humboldt State University |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster's |
Future Plans of 2010-11 Bachelor's Degree Recipients
Survey Administration Process
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 84% four-year success and progress rate means that 84% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
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Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 758 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 832 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 74%
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Student Learning at Humboldt State University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
Assessment at Humboldt State University focuses on student learning in all undergraduate and graduate programs including general education. HSU recently adopted seven university wide student learning outcomes that all of our graduates will demonstrate. We are developing ways to assess our co-curricular activities to compliment our curricular assessment.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
2008-09 Results from the Collegiate Learning Assessment
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication using a performance task and an analytic writing task. The scores from the tasks are reported separately below.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Performance Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1048
Senior Score: 1185
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 22
Senior Score: 22
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1030
Senior Score: 1124
Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the analytic writing task is at or near what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1122
Senior Score: 1241
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average ACT scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 24
Senior Score: 24
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1038
Senior Score: 1085