California

Adopted in 1960, California’s Master Plan for higher education guarantees a place in college for every state resident who can benefit. The historic blueprint produced systems and programs that have served as models for other states and for countries across the globe.

Recent Work

Bittersweet Relief: Strengthening California’s Tuition Recovery Fund to Better Support

Students suffer extreme hardship when their postsecondary education is interrupted or devalued by school closure or misconduct, leaving them with tens of thousands of dollars of debt. California’s Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) is a state-managed reserve intended to relieve or mitigate the financial distress these students experience, but it has only provided relief to a relatively small number of students affected by school closure. While STRF has the potential to be a critical resource to students harmed by failing schools, it is clear that improvements to visibility and accessibility to students are needed in order to accomplish that goal. This report examines the history of STRF and student loan forgiveness programs, describes the impact of school closures on students, and provides policy recommendations informed by student testimony and interviews conducted with legal aid providers and state government representatives.

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Coalition Letter Urging Conference Committee on Budget to Strengthen College Affordability in 2019-20 California State Budget

Over 20 organizations urged the California State Assembly Committee on Budget, Subcommittee 2 on Education Finance to make a down payment towards college affordability by increasing the number of competitive Cal Grants and the size of the Cal Grant B access award. Doing so will ensure more students across all types of colleges get the assistance they need to cover total college costs and successfully earn a higher education credential.

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Blog Posts

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California Students Need a Major Investment in Financial Aid

January 7, 2019

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Important Steps Forward on College Affordability in California Budget Agreement

June 18, 2018

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Press Releases & Statements

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Statement on California Complaint Process for Out-of-State Online Colleges

July 29, 2019

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2019-20 California State Budget Agreement Makes Critical Down Payments Towards College Affordability

June 12, 2019

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Reports

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First Comes Diploma, Then Comes Debt. Unequal Debt Burdens among University of California Undergraduates

March 21, 2019

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Employment Outcomes at California Colleges: Improving Information for Students, Schools, and Policymakers

March 12, 2019

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Coalition Work

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Coalition Letter Urging Conference Committee on Budget to Strengthen College Affordability in 2019-20 California State Budget

June 6, 2019

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Coalition Letter Urging Strengthening College Affordability in 2019-20 California State Budget

May 16, 2019

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These investments are important down payments towards broader state financial aid reforms which remain desperately needed. Even with the increases included in this budget, hundreds of thousands of eligible low- and middle-income Californians, including the majority of student parents, will continue to be denied state grants because too few of them are funded.

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Blog Posts

California Students Need a Major Investment in Financial Aid

Important Steps Forward on College Affordability in California Budget Agreement

Press Releases & Statements

Statement on California Complaint Process for Out-of-State Online Colleges

2019-20 California State Budget Agreement Makes Critical Down Payments Towards College Affordability

Reports

First Comes Diploma, Then Comes Debt. Unequal Debt Burdens among University of California Undergraduates

Employment Outcomes at California Colleges: Improving Information for Students, Schools, and Policymakers

Coalition Work

Coalition Letter Urging Conference Committee on Budget to Strengthen College Affordability in 2019-20 California State Budget

Coalition Letter Urging Strengthening College Affordability in 2019-20 California State Budget

Our Work

Recent Work

Bittersweet Relief: Strengthening California’s Tuition Recovery Fund to Better Support

Coalition Letter Urging Conference Committee on Budget to Strengthen College Affordability in 2019-20 California State Budget

Blog Posts

California Students Need a Major Investment in Financial Aid

Important Steps Forward on College Affordability in California Budget Agreement

Press Releases & Statements

Statement on California Complaint Process for Out-of-State Online Colleges

2019-20 California State Budget Agreement Makes Critical Down Payments Towards College Affordability

Reports

First Comes Diploma, Then Comes Debt. Unequal Debt Burdens among University of California Undergraduates

Employment Outcomes at California Colleges: Improving Information for Students, Schools, and Policymakers

Coalition Work

Coalition Letter Urging Conference Committee on Budget to Strengthen College Affordability in 2019-20 California State Budget

Coalition Letter Urging Strengthening College Affordability in 2019-20 California State Budget

Debbie Cochrane, TICAS Executive Vice President on the 2019-20 California State Budget

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