California

“California’s keystone financial aid programs present key opportunities to more robustly address college affordability. While we have made previous gains, there remains room to address persisting equity issue and affordability barriers, such as increasing the Cal Grant B access award which is a critical lever to put dollars in students’ pockets that supports their higher education success. Furthermore, as federal changes weaken student loan protections and program quality guardrails, it is critical that California strengthens and invests in its own consumer protections and oversight entities such as the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education and Department for Financial Protection and Innovation.”

Emmanuel "Manny" Rodriguez, Senior Director of Policy and Advocacy for California