Education is a journey on a road with many exits.

We hope that all students persist through high school, but many do not. We hope that many go on to college, but many do not. We hope those who go to college will finish, but, again, many do not.

California has a long and well-respected history of providing its residents with affordable, lifelong access to postsecondary education. The largest and most visible investment is a robust public system of colleges and universities.

For every 100 students that enter 9th grade this year in California, about 87 will finish high school within five years. About 68 will enroll in some kind of college, but only 30 will earn a degree within six years. About 24 of those will be four-year degrees, and 6 will be two-year degrees.

Source: Ed100 analysis of available California and national data, 2021, by Sam Hiken and Jeff Camp. Rates of high school graduation, college enrollment, and college completion have risen significantly over time. Compare this graphic to 2006).

There are important patterns, of course. Female students tend to advance to and through college at higher rates than male students. Race/ethnicity is predictive, too — explore the interactive chart below to see Ed100's analysis of current trends.

California’s Master Plan for Higher Ed: three college systems

California's system of public higher education has three parts. In 1960, California's Master Plan for Higher Education created three systems of public colleges that still exist today. All three systems depend heavily on the state for funding to subsidize the California students who attend.

Big: The University of California (UC) system is the state’s primary academic research institution. It provides undergraduate, graduate, and professional education to over 280,000 students at ten campuses. Admission is guaranteed to the top 12.5% of public high school graduates and all qualified community college transfer students.

Bigger: The California State University (CSU) system has a total of 23 campuses and serves over 400,000 students. The CSU offers undergraduate and graduate education, including a limited number of doctorate degrees jointly with the University of California. Admission to the CSU is available to the top one-third (33.3%) of public high school graduates and all qualified community college transfer students.

Biggest: The California Community Colleges (CCC) is this country’s largest system of higher education. The 116 campuses are organized into 72 districts that together serve 2.1 million students of all ages. About three out of every 10 high school graduates -- that’s over 100,000 students annually -- enroll in a community college and study alongside many older adults. Students who attend community colleges can earn an associate degree, complete a training or certificate program, or prepare to transfer to a four-year university. California's community colleges accept all applicants who are high school graduates, as well as any other adults who can benefit from attendance.

Historically, these three systems operated very separately, and transfer applications were a painful process. In 2015 the leadership of the CSU system began to define explicit pathways for transfers. The UC system clarified its transfer processes and requirements in 2018.

More extensive information about these public institutions, the students they serve, and issues they face is available in a series of concise briefs from The Campaign for College Opportunity. Private colleges in California also play a significant role, enrolling nearly 300,000 students.

Adult Education programs in California

California’s adult education system also provides a second chance to young adults who have not graduated from high school.

At the time that California passed its Master Plan for higher education, the state also provided significant funding to public high schools and community colleges to provide adult education classes. The basic reason for an investment in adult education investment is economic; the state’s adults need access to continuing education of various sorts, not necessarily tied to the completion of a degree or certificate.

Funding for adult education declined by over 50% during the Great Recession, spurring California officials to begin rethinking the state’s approach. Spearheaded by Governor Jerry Brown, lawmakers called for a transition to a system of regional partnerships for this purpose. In 2013 the state budget agreement stabilized adult ed funding and set a two-year timeline for the implementation of these partnerships.

Today, though funding for adult education has been greatly reduced, about one million adult students per year still enroll in adult education courses through public schools, community colleges, and various community providers. Over a third of these adult students are studying English as a second language, with the support of federal funding.

One important goal of California’s adult education system is to give a second chance to young adults who have not graduated from high school. For example, the system offers students classes to prepare for the General Educational Development (GED®) test or the HiSET®. In 2017, 300,540 Americans took the GED test, and 79 percent passed.

What comes after high school for your student?

The California State PTA provides resources to help plan for college, including info on application and testing assistance, school research, and financial aid.

• University of California entrance requirements
• California State University entrance requirements
• California Community College entrance requirements

Updated August 2021