Though California colleges have made large news not too long ago for rising tuition rates, California's public universities are regularly recognized for providing outstanding educations. A large number of colleges in California created it onto U.S. News & Planet Report's "Preferred Colleges: Major Public Schools 2011" list. In fact, 5 of the prime ten, which includes the leading two spots, had been California universities.
California Colleges: The Numbers
California has significantly alot more colleges and universities than other states, serving a student population of more than 2 million in 2006-- a quantity that has most likely grown given that then as college enrollments nationwide have improved. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2008/09 in California there had been:
- 147 public institutions (compared to a U.S. typical of 32)
- 146 private, not-for-profit institutions (U.S. average of 31)
- 143 private, for-profit institutions (U.S. average of 23)
The National Center for Public Policy and Greater Education breaks it down additional in its 2008 Report Card:
- 35 public four-year California colleges
- 112 public two-year California colleges
- 200 private four-year California colleges
- 72 private two-year California colleges
California Colleges' Report Card Grades
The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education's 2008 Report Card for California universities and colleges reflected the budget challenges the state has knowledgeable. California's worst grades, C- for "affordability" and C for "participation," largely reflected the recent tuition increases California has seasoned (as much as 32 percent at some colleges).
Rising tuition has elevated the percentage of earnings that students and their families allocate for education. In 2007/08 those attending two-year colleges paid 25 percent of loved ones income on college, compared to 24 percent nationally in 1999/2000, that figure was 20 percent in California and 19 percent nationally.
For four-year college students, in 2007/08, 28 percent of household income was put to use for education (equal to the national average) in 1999/2000, it was 21 percent in California and 20 percent nationally.
While its "participation" grade could be far better, the report's findings placed California slightly above the national typical for college enrollment of young adults in the state.
The Report Card cited the following typical tuition rates for 2007/08:
- Public 4-year: $five,188
- Public two-year: $594
- Private: $29,785
Average financial aid for students attending California universities and colleges was $2,384 for two-year college students and $6,692 for four-year college students. According to the Department of Education, in 2009 and 2010, more than 2 million students attending colleges in California had been awarded federal economic aid, which integrated grants and loans. In 2006, over 1.5 million students (out of two,172,354 enrolled) had been awarded federal financial help.
California Living
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic (BLS), the median 2009 earnings for California's nearly 37 million people today was $49,550. According to Econ Post, California has the biggest GDP in the U.S. and the eighth greatest in the globe. Notable California industries consist of computer software package, manufacturing, fishing, wineries, and medical marijuana.
