SB 969: California College and University Fee Stabilization

No. of Jobs

N/A

Category

Value working families

Proposal

This bill will establish a long term, predictable and affordable fee policy for the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC).

Summary

The bill will limit fee hikes in any given year to specified, clear economic index when the state has provided sufficient resources to fund cost of living adjustments and enrollment growth. The bill will also require CSU and UC to better engage students in determining fees levels while enhancing notification about fee levels and financial aid opportunities for needy students.  The bill also gives students and families better ability to plan and adjust by requiring a 6 month delay from the time the fee is adopted to the time it becomes effective if a state budget has been enacted by September 30th.

Background

The cost of public colleges and universities in California has fluctuated dramatically over the last ten years. At the California State University, fees have increased almost 180 percent over that time. Similar increases are felt across- the-board in all segments of education. This creates a very difficult situation for students and working families trying to adequately plan their college expenses.

If the state continues to create barriers to the ability for students to attain a college and university education, it’s estimated that by 2025, only 35 percent of working age adults will have a college degree in an economy that would otherwise require 41 percent of workers to have one.

Read the Bill

California Higher Education Student Fee Charts