Fact Sheet Student Loan Debt in California By Jacob Jackson, Darriya Starr Jun 16, 2023 Student borrowing in California has declined markedly over the past decade. Borrowing rates vary across the state’s public and private institutions; undergraduates at public universities are least likely to borrow, while students who attend for-profit schools are more likely to struggle to pay off loans.
event A Conversation with University of California President Michael V. Drake Feb 18, 2021 How is the University of California addressing major ongoing challenges, from the pandemic and its economic impact to persistent concerns about racial equity? Recently appointed UC President Michael V. Drake will join PPIC President and CEO Mark Baldassare for a wide-ranging conversation about short- and long-term priorities for higher education in California.
blog post UC May Struggle to Meet Transfer Requirement By Jacob Jackson Jun 1, 2017 UC is enrolling more transfer students but has not come closer to meeting its goal: two new in-state freshmen for every in-state transfer student.
Report Improving College Graduation Rates: A Closer Look at California State University By Kevin Cook, Jacob Jackson May 17, 2016 Low college graduation rates come at a high cost—lower salaries, lower tax revenue, and fewer college graduates in the workforce. At California State University (CSU), the nation's largest university system, graduation rates have an outsized financial and economic impact on students and the state. CSU has made strides in improving graduation rates, but there is more work to be done. The system continues to struggle with graduation gaps—underrepresented students are much less likely to complete their degree compared to their peers, and these gaps have not narrowed over time. Also, CSU's on-time (four-year) graduation rates still lag behind those of similar universities nationwide. By 2025, CSU aims to further increase graduation rates while cutting graduation gaps in half. To assist campus planning for this goal, we identify several promising programs and policies. More broadly, the CSU Chancellor's Office must work with campuses to evaluate and expand successful efforts, and the state must play a role in supporting new policies to move the needle on graduation gaps and on-time graduation.
event A Conversation with University of California President Mark Yudof May 7, 2013 About the ProgramCalifornia is facing a serious shortfall in its supply of college–educated workers. At the same time, the state's public colleges and universities are contending with big fiscal and structural challenges that threaten their ability to meet that demand. Join us for a wide–ranging conversation with Mark Yudof, president of the University of California, about the future of higher education in California.
Report Higher Education in California: Student Costs By Jacob Jackson Nov 12, 2014 Increases in tuition across California’s public four-year universities have heightened concerns about the affordability of a college education, especially for those with the lowest incomes. In-state full tuition at the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) has risen more dramatically than at other public universities in other states over the past decade. During this same period, the federal, state, and institutional grant and scholarship programs that help make college affordable for students from lower- and middle-income families expanded. This helped lower-income families keep up with rising tuition, but the full price of college beyond tuition can still be a relatively large share of their income. Given the importance of higher education to California’s economic future, policymakers at the federal, state, and institutional levels need to make a continuing commitment to keep college affordable for students from low- and middle-income families. Also, given current tuition levels, it is more important than ever for the state to ensure that all students fill out financial aid forms and can easily access tools that can help them understand the financial aid packages they are offered.
blog post The Growing Gender Divide in Higher Education By Hans Johnson Oct 4, 2016 In California and across the nation, women have surpassed men in educational attainment.
