2008 Woodie Awards
Risky Enrollment Rates
Although California receives top grade in college affordability, matriculation faces steep drop.
Tiffany Farmakis
Issue date: 9/29/04 Section: News
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Although California has the most affordable colleges in the nation, the likelihood of students enrolling by age 19 is declining, according to a report by the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education.
The report, entitled Measuring Up 2004, found that the number of teenagers entering college has dropped by 9 percent in the last decade, even though high schools have done a better job in providing college preparatory courses.
"Even in areas where California does relatively well, such as participation in higher education, opportunities for young Californians have diminished since the early 1990s. The state's poor performance in most areas related to college preparation and enrollment of high school graduates in college is the most significant finding of Measuring Up 2004 for California," National Center President Patrick Callan said in a news release. "Today's young Californians may be the first in the modern history of the state to experience an actual decline in college opportunity."
The National Center report, issued every two years, offers a synopsis of the nation's current performance and for the first time, its improvement over the past decade. It grades all 50 states on the affordability, preparation, participation, access, degree completion and the benefits each state receives from its colleges.
California scored C for preparation and completion but received A for participation and benefits. The study also gave California a B in affordability, still the top grade of any state, despite the recent tuition increases. However, that was down from the A received in 2002.
Callan also stated in the news release that it's unclear why California experienced such a steep drop in college enrollment. The state's high school population is increasing rapidly, both in size and diversity. He criticizes California for inadequately preparing for the sudden bulge.
"There just hasn't been room for people. It isn't so much physical space as we haven't funded the faculty, the classrooms and the sections," said Callan.
The report, entitled Measuring Up 2004, found that the number of teenagers entering college has dropped by 9 percent in the last decade, even though high schools have done a better job in providing college preparatory courses.
"Even in areas where California does relatively well, such as participation in higher education, opportunities for young Californians have diminished since the early 1990s. The state's poor performance in most areas related to college preparation and enrollment of high school graduates in college is the most significant finding of Measuring Up 2004 for California," National Center President Patrick Callan said in a news release. "Today's young Californians may be the first in the modern history of the state to experience an actual decline in college opportunity."
The National Center report, issued every two years, offers a synopsis of the nation's current performance and for the first time, its improvement over the past decade. It grades all 50 states on the affordability, preparation, participation, access, degree completion and the benefits each state receives from its colleges.
California scored C for preparation and completion but received A for participation and benefits. The study also gave California a B in affordability, still the top grade of any state, despite the recent tuition increases. However, that was down from the A received in 2002.
Callan also stated in the news release that it's unclear why California experienced such a steep drop in college enrollment. The state's high school population is increasing rapidly, both in size and diversity. He criticizes California for inadequately preparing for the sudden bulge.
"There just hasn't been room for people. It isn't so much physical space as we haven't funded the faculty, the classrooms and the sections," said Callan.
