Humboldt State students enjoy an extraordinary college experience, taking small classes taught by professors who know them by name. They live and learn in one of the world's most beautiful places—near ancient redwood forests, mountains, and beaches. We are located 275 miles north of San Francisco in Arcata, which is recognized as one of the West's best college towns.
Humboldt State is a public institution and part of the 23-campus California State University system. With full-time undergraduate tuition of just $7,492 annually, we are among the nation's best higher education values. We have over 8,000 students and 578 faculty members. We offer a wide array of academic choices, with 51 majors and 12 graduate programs in three Colleges. Faculty members are among the top teachers and researchers in their fields. Natural resources and sciences are nationally known, while visual and performing arts are also popular areas of study. Throughout the curriculum, students find a long-standing commitment to social and environmental responsibility.
We were founded as a teacher's college in 1913. Over the last century, we have grown from an institution focused solely on teacher education to an accredited university with extensive research facilities. There have been plenty of name changes over the years: We have been called Humboldt State Normal School, Humboldt State Teacher's College, Humboldt State College, CSU Humboldt, and, since 1974, Humboldt State University.
Our students have plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning with professors engaged in research and community service. The Coral Sea, for example, is an oceangoing vessel used primarily for undergraduate research. Students can study with the world's foremost expert on redwood trees and leading experts in sustainable energy systems. In our cutting edge Fire Lab, students study the properties of forest fires. In the Schatz Energy Research Center, student engineers work on real-world issues like bringing sustainable lighting to the developing world. Students create their theatre productions, study the mechanics of walking in the Human Performance Lab, work with young children in the Child Development Lab, and more. Possibilities abound for real-world research experience available to undergraduates—something few other universities can boast.
Outside the classroom, our students enjoy rich campus life. They are involved in more than 190 campus clubs and have access to a state-of-the-art recreational facility. Each year, CenterArts brings nationally recognized performers and speakers to campus, and we have 12 NCAA Division II athletic teams.
Humboldt State University is a comprehensive, residential campus of the California State University. We welcome students from California and the world to our campus. We offer them access to an affordable, high-quality education that is responsive to the needs of a fast-changing world. We serve them by providing a wide array of programs and activities that promote understanding social, economic, and environmental issues. We help individuals prepare to be responsible members of diverse societies.
Humboldt State University will be the campus of choice for individuals who seek, above all else, to improve the human condition and our environment.
- We will be the premier center for the interdisciplinary study of the environment and its natural resources.
- We will be a regional center for the arts.
- We will be renowned for social and environmental responsibility and action.
- We believe the key to our shared future will be the individual citizen who acts in good conscience and engages in informed action.
- We will commit to increasing our diversity of people and perspectives.
- We will be exemplary partners with our communities, including tribal nations.
- We will be stewards of learning to make a positive difference.
Humboldt State University is renowned nationally and internationally for its academic excellence, intensive research, and unique programs. Our small class sizes allow students and faculty to work closely together and receive personalized attention and support. HSU has outstanding natural science and resources programs and excels in business, humanities, and liberal arts. Join us at our safe, welcoming campus on the northern California coast surrounded by towering redwood trees.
Creative and open-minded. Friendly and curious. Progressive and different. That is Humboldt State students, and they do quite a bit more than complete their degree requirements. They explore, volunteer, organize, and play. They try new things and challenge the status quo. At Humboldt State, we encourage you to pursue your interests and follow your path—in the classroom and beyond.
A great way to get connected and make friends is to get involved with campus activities. There is always something going on, from festivals to football games, significant events to special lectures. Scale the 40-foot rock wall in the Student Rec Center, go for a run on the community forest trails, join a club or organize your own. There are nearly 200 campus clubs, intramural sports teams, and Greek organizations to choose from.
Living on campus is a great way to meet friends and get connected to all HSU offers. As an on-campus resident, you will be at the heart of a university committed to your academic success. Whether you live on or off-campus, HSU has resources to make you feel at home.
When you come to HSU, you can choose a residence hall organized around a theme. Theme & Community Housing gives you a chance to live and learn for a year alongside people who share your interests.
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