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California’s Higher Education System

By Kevin Cook

The nation’s largest public system of higher learning is in California. Nearly 80% of state students attend a public institution, with over half enrolling in community college—making transfer into a four-year college a key path to a bachelor’s degree. Funds to support higher education and financial aid account for about 7% of the state’s budget.

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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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Higher Education and Economic Opportunity in California

By Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia

The pandemic and its economic impact have highlighted longstanding social inequities: low-income and less-educated workers are bearing the brunt of both the virus and the downturn. Now more than ever, policymakers and higher education leaders must find avenues for low income and underrepresented students to access the benefits of a college degree.

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Higher Education in California

By Patrick Murphy, Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Kevin Cook ...

Higher education is a key driver of economic growth and individual opportunity in California. Substantial gains in college enrollment and graduation rates—particularly among historically underrepresented groups—can help boost economic mobility, increase tax revenue, and reduce pressure on the social safety net.

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Higher Education in California: Student Costs

By Jacob Jackson

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.

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Coordinating California’s Higher Education System

By Paul Warren

Establishing an independent council to provide leadership, expertise, and coordination across sectors of higher education would help California better meet student and workforce needs. This brief report outlines key considerations for building a successful council.

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Spending on Corrections and Higher Education

By Sonya Tafoya, Sarah Bohn

California spends more on corrections and less on higher education today, in relative terms, than at nearly any point in the past thirty years.

Report

Higher Education in California: Making College Affordable

By Hans Johnson, Jacob Jackson, Courtney Lee

After doubling during the Great Recession, tuition at California’s public universities has leveled off. However, non-tuition costs are significant, especially for students from low-income families. State financial aid programs focus mostly on tuition, so students must cover costs that add up to thousands of dollars.

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