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.
Fact Sheet Income Inequality in California By Tess Thorman, Daniel Payares-Montoya Apr 17, 2024 California’s income gap narrowed in 2022, but the disparity between high and low incomes is wider in California than in most other states. Over the longer term, income inequality has been driven by earnings growth among college-educated workers.
blog post Standardized Testing and College Eligibility By Courtney Lee, Jacob Jackson Oct 11, 2018 Many states are encouraging more students to attend college by changing how they use entrance exams such as the SAT and ACT. Where does California stand?
Report Defunding Higher Education: What Are the Effects on College Enrollment? By Hans Johnson May 10, 2012 California’s high school graduates are more prepared than ever for college -- but they are less likely to go. Amid ongoing state budget cuts, UC and CSU enrollment rates have fallen 20 percent among recent high school grads. This research was supported with funding from the Donald Bren Foundation and The James Irvine Foundation.
Report Accountability for California’s Alternative Schools By Paul Warren May 31, 2016 About 12 percent of all California high school seniors attend an alternative school, but far fewer than half graduate. To improve outcomes and promote the success of at-risk students, the state needs a new approach to measuring alternative school performance.
Report New Eligibility Rules for the University of California? The Effects of New Science Requirements By Niu Gao, Hans Johnson, Julien Lafortune, Anthony Dalton Nov 20, 2019 The UC system has proposed requiring three years of high school science, instead of two, to align with new K–12 standards. But this change could also reduce eligibility, especially for underrepresented students. Stakeholders can take several steps to help ensure the policy promotes equity.
blog post Lessons in Innovation from Lindsay Unified School District By Mary Severance, Niu Gao Jul 6, 2022 Lindsay Unified, a rural district in the Central Valley, has seen dramatic improvements in students outcomes. Superintendent Tom Rooney talks about the ongoing transformation.
blog post College Admissions in an Era of Uncertainty By Niu Gao, Hans Johnson Jan 5, 2022 The University of California and the California State University have altered admissions policies to address some of the academic effects of the pandemic and to increase equity in access. What does the early evidence say about the impact of these changes?
blog post Testimony: Increasing Community College Transfers By Hans Johnson Nov 18, 2020 In testimony for the Regents of the University of California, PPIC’s Hans Johnson discusses progress in increasing community college transfers and ways to further improve the transfer pathway.
