The main campus, situated hillside at the edge of a coast redwood forest, overlooks Arcata, much of Humboldt Bay, and the Pacific Ocean.

Humboldt State Normal School was established as a teacher's college on June 16, 1913, by California governor Hiram Johnson.

During World War II, Arcata's city defense council suggested camouflaging Founder's Hall, which is visible from the Pacific Ocean, so it would not be a target for Japanese submarines.

[12] During WWII, President Arthur Gist corresponded back and forth with the hundreds of students who left Humboldt State College to serve in the war.

Under President Cornelius H. Siemens in 1952, HSU continued expanding by accepting students from abroad, including some from Yugoslavia, Germany, the Near East as well as US territories such as American Samoa, Guam and Hawaii.

The workshop is the largest assemblage of Afro-Cuban folkloric masters in the United States, drawing students from across the country and around the world.

The purpose of the Pledge is to encourage graduating students to be mindful of the social and environmental impacts of their employment as they enter the workforce or continue their education.

On April 30, a large law enforcement task force stormed both occupied buildings and arrested at least 35 people, bringing the occupation to an end.

[19] On May 23, 1972, fourteen of the nineteen CSU campuses were renamed to "California State University," followed by a comma and then their geographic designation.

Cal Poly Humboldt is the only university in California to offer a degree in rangeland resources and wildland soil science.

The university offers unique minors including multicultural queer studies, scientific diving, and appropriate technology.

The college of eLearning & Extended Ed (CEEE) is a self-supporting outreach department of Cal Poly Humboldt that provides a variety of academic, professional development and personal enrichment opportunities.

While the CEEE programs are open to almost everyone, there is an emphasis on providing access to those community members who are not matriculated students at the university.

This new facility will be closer to the Coral Sea (in 2012 docked at Woodley Island, Eureka), the only vessel in a U.S. educational institution solely dedicated to undergraduate research.

[29] Cal Poly Humboldt Professor Steve Sillett has conducted groundbreaking research on redwood forest canopies and was featured in a 2009 cover story in National Geographic.

HEIF provides a rare opportunity for students, faculty, and plant operations staff to work together collaboratively towards a goal of a lower-carbon and energy-independent future.

[42] The Associated Students fund WRRAP, the Campus Center for Appropriate Technology, and the Sustainable Living Arts and Music Festival (SLAM fest).

Cal Poly Humboldt built the first building in the CSU system to be LEED-gold certified for its eco-friendly features.

The Behavioral and Social Sciences Building has facilities for rainwater collection and sustainably harvested wood native-plant landscaping, among others.

[28] The university's location affords students the potential for outside activities in local parks and public lands, which include miles of accessible, undeveloped coastline.

There are over 200 clubs on campus; these include a variety of options that range from social interests, academic, Greek life and sports.

El Leñador received first place in competing against other monthly and bi-weekly papers from four- and two-year colleges and universities across California.

The Press at Cal Poly Humboldt publishes high-quality scholarly, intellectual, and creative works by or in support of the campus community.

[47] The Lumberjacks program is affiliated with the NCAA on the Division II level and is a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

The university has sought to restrict and penalize students who are forced to live in cars, RVs or vans on campus.

[48] A 2018 study concluded that almost 20% of Cal Poly Humboldt students had experienced recent homelessness,[49] double the rate of the CSU system as a whole.

[49] Cal Poly Humboldt announced it was closing the Campus Apartments in late January 2025 on the recommendations of a consultant after mold tests conducted in a recently vacated room.