blog post Interactive: Many Californians Live in or Near Poverty By Tess Thorman Mar 4, 2020 Economic hardship does not end at the poverty line. More than 7 million Californians are “near poor”: out of poverty, but with annual resources of up to just 1.5 times the poverty threshold.
blog post Covering the Real Costs of College By Kevin Cook Dec 11, 2019 With many students struggling to afford California’s high cost of living, state policymakers have sought to reform financial aid programs to address the full cost of attending college.
blog post Video: Poverty and Opportunity in California By Steven Bliss Oct 25, 2019 At an event in Sacramento, researcher Tess Thorman and an expert panel discuss the latest poverty figures and how public policy and community-based services can reduce economic hardship and broaden opportunity.
Report Higher Education in California: Making College Affordable By Hans Johnson, Jacob Jackson, Courtney Lee Oct 1, 2019 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.
Report Higher Education in California: Meeting California’s Workforce Needs By Hans Johnson, Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia Oct 1, 2019 Strong and growing demand for highly educated workers has been a hallmark of the state’s economy for decades, and forecasts show this demand continuing into the future. But the importance of increasing the number of college graduates goes beyond workforce needs.
Report Higher Education in California By Patrick Murphy, Sarah Bohn, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Kevin Cook ... Oct 1, 2019 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.
Report Higher Education in California: Increasing Equity and Diversity By Hans Johnson, Marisol Cuellar Mejia, Olga Rodriguez Oct 1, 2019 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.
blog post Video: Career Pathways and Economic Mobility at California’s Community Colleges By Vicki Hsieh Jul 1, 2019 At an event in Sacramento, researcher Shannon McConville and an expert panel discuss a new PPIC report on the earnings gains provided by career education credentials from California community colleges.
Report Career Pathways and Economic Mobility at California’s Community Colleges By Sarah Bohn, Jacob Jackson, Shannon McConville Jun 26, 2019 Career education credentials from California’s community colleges can help students advance in the labor market. But some programs offer larger economic returns than others, and it can take a long time for students to see increased earnings. Improving student outcomes—while also responding to future workforce needs—is a challenging but critical task facing the state.
blog post Video: English as a Second Language in California Community Colleges By Mary Severance May 2, 2019 PPIC researcher Bonnie Brooks presents findings from a new report on ESL in community colleges, and an expert panel discusses how campuses across the state are taking steps to strengthen their ESL programs.