Humboldt State University

Arcata

Humboldt State University offers students personal attention from their professors in a small, residential community. There are plenty of academic choices, with 47 majors and nationally recognized programs in natural resources and science. Hands-on experiences often supplement classroom instruction, and students take part in hundreds of volunteer projects and internships in the surrounding area. \r\n\r\nWith an enrollment of 7,800, Humboldt State is large enough to offer a lively campus and major research facilities, but small enough that students are not lost in a crowd. It’s a tight-knit community where professors and staff are known for really getting to know students.\r\n\r\nHumboldt State is about five hours north of San Francisco and 90 minutes south of Oregon on California’s redwood coast. Six rivers, mountains, forests and beaches provide an ideal environment for learning and living. Students picnic at the same beaches where they study marine life, and outdoor activities are practically limitless. Humboldt State’s hometown of Arcata, as well as nearby Eureka, features plenty of coffee houses, restaurants and shopping. In a single day, a student could surf or snowboard, study for a couple of hours and then attend a concert. In fact, Arcata was named by Outside magazine as one of its top 15 college towns and National Geographic recently named it one of its—50 next great adventure towns.\r\n\r\nHumboldt State students started the Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility, which has been adopted by hundreds of universities worldwide. That commitment is reflected in many of the University’s class offerings, research efforts and projects. These include the Humboldt Energy Independence Fund, which funds student-led campus energy-saving projects, and the student-run sustainability demonstration house known as the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology, which is one of the oldest of its kind. In addition, students annually give more than 35,000 hours of volunteer work through service learning classes, and Humboldt State is consistently among the leading institutions in providing Peace Corps volunteers. For this and more, the Princeton Review includes Humboldt State on its list of 81 Colleges with a Conscience, as well as among its Best Western Colleges. \r\n\r\nThe campus offers more than 180 academic, career, cultural, sports and lifestyle clubs. Art exhibits and lectures take place throughout the year, and the University’s Center Arts brings in nationally recognized performers and speakers. The campus has a student recreational facility with a state-of-the-art fitness/wellness center, and a recently completed physical education facility features kinesiology labs and gym space. Twelve intercollegiate athletic teams compete at the Division II level, including football, a nationally ranked softball squad and a highly competitive men’s basketball team.\r\n