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Higher Education in California: Investing in Public Higher Education

By Hans Johnson, Patrick Murphy, Kevin Cook

State funding for higher education has increased in recent years. Per student funding for the California Community Colleges (CCC) is at an historic high and the Cal Grant program is larger than ever. But the state’s investment in its public universities remains far lower than in the past.

Report

Financing Higher Education Capital Projects

By Patrick Murphy, Radhika Mehlotra, Kevin Cook

Aging infrastructure should be a major priority as California seeks to produce more college-educated workers. Modernizing and maintaining facilities at the state’s community colleges, CSU, and UC could cost billions of dollars, with each system facing its own unique challenges.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Higher Education

By Mark Baldassare, Jennifer Paluch, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek

Some findings of the current survey:

  • An overwhelming share of residents (84%) say affording college is at least somewhat of a problem for students today – and 53 percent call it “a big problem.”
  • Latinos are the most likely (79%) to say a college education is necessary for success in the workplace. Only 55 percent of whites say the same.
  • A strong majority of Californians (65%) say that many residents who are qualified don’t have the opportunity to attend college.
  • Over half (56%) of Californians think that getting a college education is more difficult than it was 10 years ago.
  • A whopping 92 percent of Californians who have attended college think that getting a higher education was money and time well spent.

This is the 81st PPIC Statewide Survey and the first on the topic of higher education in California. It is supported by funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Higher Education

By Mark Baldassare, Jennifer Paluch, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek

Some findings of the current survey:

  • Californians say the most important issue facing higher education is its cost.
  • Solid majorities across all regional, demographic, and political groups rate the performance of the three state higher education systems as excellent or good.
  • Sixty-four percent of Latino parents are “very worried” about affording a college education, while only 29 percent of white parents say the same.

This is the 92nd PPIC Statewide Survey and the second Californians and Higher Education survey, which seeks to inform state policymakers, encourage discussion, and raise public awareness about issues affecting higher education. It is supported with funding from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

Report

Higher Education in California: Improving College Completion

By Hans Johnson, Kevin Cook, Jacob Jackson

California needs more college graduates. The state is projected to fall 1.1 million bachelor’s degrees short of economic demand by 2030. Expanding access to higher education could help shrink the gap, but California also needs to help students stay on track to earn degrees.

Report

Higher Education in California: Increasing Equity and Diversity

By Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Olga Rodriguez

A solid majority of California’s future college-age population will come from demographic groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education—including Latinos, African Americans, and those who are low income or the first in their families to go to college.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Higher Education

By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Lunna Lopes, Alyssa Dykman

Key findings: Most Californians think public higher education should be a high priority for the next governor; many are ready for a change in policies. A majority see affordability as a big problem and are concerned about students at public colleges and universities taking on too much debt.More than half say the level of state funding for higher education is inadequate; many think a state spending guarantee for the California State University and University of California systems is a good idea.

Statewide Survey

PPIC Statewide Survey: Californians and Higher Education

By Mark Baldassare, Dean Bonner, Sonja Petek, Jui Shrestha

Some findings of the current survey:

  • About six in 10 Californians say the state’s higher education system is headed in the wrong direction.
  • Three-fourths say there is not enough state funding for higher education.
  • Most say college affordability and the potential of more cuts are big problems for higher education.

Job Approval Ratings:
Governor Brown [PDF]
California State Legislature [PDF]

Time Trends of Job Approval Ratings:
Governor Brown [XLS]
California State Legislature [XLS]

This survey was funded with support from The James Irvine Foundation.

Report

Higher Education in California: Expanding College Access

By Hans Johnson, Sarah Bohn, Jacob Jackson, Olga Rodriguez

Access to college is essential to California’s future growth. More California high school graduates are academically ready for college than ever before. More are applying to and enrolling in college. But many qualified applicants are still being turned away.

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