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Independent, objective, nonpartisan research
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PPIC Higher Education Center

The PPIC Higher Education Center advances practical solutions that enhance educational opportunities for California's students—improving lives and expanding economic growth across the state.

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Explainer · March 2023

Is College Worth It?

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Report · November 2022

COVID-19 Emergency Funding and California’s Higher Education Systems

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Report · November 2022

English as a Second Language at California’s Community Colleges

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Blog Posts

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May 16, 2023

Improving Lives through Public Policy

Tani Cantil-Sakauye

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May 3, 2023

Financial Aid Applications for College Increase after New Law

Jacob Jackson

photo - College Students in a Partially Empty Classroom
March 31, 2023

Declining Higher Education Enrollment Could Widen Inequality in California

Daniel Payares-Montoya, Tess Thorman, Joseph Herrera

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March 23, 2023

California’s Private Colleges Are Preparing for the End of Affirmative Action

Kevin Cook, Mary Severance

Events

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English as a Second Language at California’s Community Colleges

November 30, 2022

The Effects of COVID-19 on Transfer-Intending Students in California’s Community Colleges

November 3, 2022

Fact Sheets

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June 2022

The Digital Divide in Education

Darriya Starr, Joseph Hayes, Niu Gao

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March 2021

Immigrants and Education in California

Hans Johnson, Cesar Alesi Perez, Marisol Cuellar Mejia

photo - Students Walking on UCLA Campus
June 2019

State Financial Aid in California

Kevin Cook, Jacob Jackson, Courtney Lee

Featured Report · October 2021

Dual Enrollment in California

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Key Areas

Fact Cards

California’s higher education system is the largest in the nation.
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34% Percentage of California adults over 25 who hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
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Immigrants make up a growing share of California workers with college degrees.
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California ranks near the bottom 50 states for share of high school graduates who directly enroll in four-year college
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