Shut Out: The Need to Increase Access to the University of California and the California State University

The value of a college degree continues to rise. A bachelor's degree in particular provides unrivaled economic and health benefits not just for the individual earning the degree, but for the entire state. Therefore, it is not surprising to see growing demand for a college education coupled with growing eligibility for California's public universities among high school students striving to attend. Unfortunately, students are being met by an increasingly competitive admissions environment and universities have responded to the growing number of applicants by raising the bar for admissions, especially as state funding to expand capacity fails to adequately fund every eligible student. While California's vision for higher education in the 1960s was revolutionary for its time, the state is in dire need of a new roadmap and vision that intentionally ensures greater access to the University of California (UC), and the California State University (CSU) for eligible students, intentionally closes the racial/ethnic gaps that persist in access and success in higher education, and ensures every Californian, regardless of race/ethnicity, zip code, or income, is given a true, equitable opportunity to go to college and cross the graduation stage. This report provides an update on California's progress and persistent challenges related to freshman access to the UC and CSU. In addition to analyzing trends in eligibility, admissions, and enrollment to the UC and CSU by race/ethnicity, the report also reviews recent policy changes and campus practices that are impacting access and success. This report concludes with a description of several national examples of ways to increase bachelor's degree capacity, and makes specific recommendations for policymakers and campus leaders toward ensuring that California can increase college access, improve college attainment and close racial/ethnic gaps to ensure individual and collective success. [Additional funding for this report was provided by the Yellow Chair Foundation. For the Executive Summary, see ED616969.]