Listen Up: Californians Respond to the College-Access Crisis

Abstract

The state of California is experiencing a rapid increase in the number of young people of college age. Between 2000 and 2015, 40 percent of the total national increase in 18- to 24-year-olds will occur in California.1 This surging demographic growth has enormous repercussions for the state’s community colleges and universities, which already are struggling with overcrowding and budget shortfalls. It also presents an enormous opportunity to invest in the future of California. A number of studies have documented this anticipated crisis in higher education. This report is the first to document the perspectives and proposed solutions of Californians who stand on the frontlines of this issue, across every major region of the state.