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In this report the authors use key outcome measures to summarize student performance within each higher education system; describe the degree of progress derived from system-level initiatives; and offer recommendations to address impediments and reduce demographic disparities. This report is a starting point for determining how everyone can improve student success throughout the public and private higher education systems in California.

The cost of attending the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) has increased in recent years as UC and CSU have raised fees in response to reduced state funding. Fees are generally lower than fees at public universities in other states, but with California's higher living costs, the overall cost of attendance at UC is higher than at most major public research universities. For the 2009-10 school year, the total cost of attendance, before financial aid, for undergraduate students living on campus ranged from $25,400 at UC Irvine to $28,900 at UC Berkeley while costs for CSU students living on campus are generally in the $20,000-$22,000 range before financial aid. Costs are lower at the inland campuses, such as Fresno and Stanislaus.

The California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) is pleased to present "Ready or Not, Here They Come: The Complete Series of Undergraduate Enrollment Demand and Capacity Projections. 2009-2019." This series updates their statewide enrollment demand and institutional capacity reports published in 1995, 2000, and 2004. The findings are intended to support higher education long-range planning and assist the Governor and Legislature during budgetary and policy deliberations. The series provides informed projections of the demand for public undergraduate higher education over the next ten years and discusses the sufficiency of classroom lecture and laboratory capacity to accommodate enrollment growth. CPEC offers this report with findings and conclusions that they believe will help inform difficult decisions and support long-range planning for higher education in the state to meet those challenges and best serve the needs of all Californians. Appended are: (1) Community College Enrollment Demand Methodology; (2) California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) Undergraduate Enrollment Demand Methodology; (3) CSU Life Table Example--Cohorts of Entering First-Time Freshmen, 2002-19; and (4) Comments from CSU. (Contains 7 figures.)

The California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) conducts policy research and analysis to support long-range planning and student success. This preliminary report on California State University undergraduate demand is the second in the "Ready or Not, Here They Come" series. The series updates CPEC's statewide enrollment demand and institutional capacity reports published in 1995 and 2000. It is intended to support higher education long-range planning and assist the Governor and the Legislature during budgetary and policy deliberations. It provides informed and valid projections of the demand for public undergraduate higher education over the next ten years and estimates of classroom lecture and laboratory capacity needed to maximize student success. Appendices include: (1) Baseline Forecast of Annual First-time Freshman Demand by Ethnicity, 2009 to 2019; (2) Summary of Mid-Range Forecast Assumptions for California State University (CSU) First-Time Freshman Demand; (3) Mid-Range Forecast--Community College Transfer Participation Rates, per 1,000; (4) CSU Undergraduate Enrollment Demand Methodology; and (5) Comments from CSU. (Contains 3 figures.)

Fees at California's public colleges and universities have increased considerably with the current state budget crisis, but are still lower than fees at comparable institutions in other states. At California State University (CSU), fees for full-time undergraduate students are $4,893 for the 2009-10 school year. Fees at the University of California (UC) are $9,311. The UC Board of Regents has approved an additional 15% increase for 2010-11 and the Governor's budget assumes an increase of 10% at CSU. With this increase, annual undergraduate fees will be $10,302 in systemwide fees, plus campus fees. Professional school fees will be raised by up to 22% in 2010-11. (Contains 3 online resources.)

California's degree gap is a growing concern. According to recent reports and news articles comparing the number of degrees awarded with the jobs expected in the coming decade, California will not have enough university graduates to meet the needs of the labor market. Previous work by the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) showed significant shortages of graduates in some high-demand technical fields such as nursing and computer science. The solution is not as simple as increasing production of degrees. Many people with university degrees are in jobs where they may not be making full use of their education. Data from the 2007 American Community Survey shows that California has nearly half a million university graduates working in occupations that are not traditionally regarded as requiring a bachelor's degree. Nearly 50,000 work as secretaries and administrative assistants and 100,000 are in other clerical jobs. About 40,000 are in lower-level jobs in health care. Many thousands more are working in retail, food service, and manufacturing. Breaking down the data for different age groups shows that this problem affects mid-career workers, not just recent graduates who may be establishing themselves in careers. Data for earlier years shows that these patterns of employment have existed for at least a decade. This apparent underemployment is a concern because a university education has become increasingly expensive and graduates often need the income from a well-paid profession to repay student loans. Employment of university graduates in low-skill jobs may be contributing to a shortage of skilled professional workers, limiting economic growth. This report examines the way that earnings vary between occupations and between educational levels in order to better understand how university graduates are making use of their degrees in the labor market.

Fees at California's public colleges and universities have increased in the past two decades, but are still lower than fees at comparable institutions in other states. Fees for full-time undergraduate students at the University of California (UC) were $8,027 in 2008-09 and fees at California State University (CSU) were $3,849. Fees are likely to rise for the 2009-10 school year. The Governor's budget proposes to raise fees at UC by 9.3% and at CSU by 10%. Fee increases would generate an additional $130 million in revenue at CSU and an additional $107 million at UC. The CSU Board of Trustees and the UC Board of Regents will hear fee increase proposals at their March or May 2009 meetings that will most likely match the Governor's proposal.

Fees at California's public colleges and universities have increased in the past two decades, but are still lower than fees at comparable institutions in other states. Fees for full-time undergraduate students at the University of California were $8,027 in 2008-09 and fees at California State University were $3,849. Fees are likely to rise for the 2009-10 school year. The Governor's budget proposes to raise fees at UC by 9.3% and at CSU by 10%.