The 2026-27 Budget: California Student Aid Commission

Feb 17, 2026 - Given the MCS program has significant overlap with the Cal Grant program, is less targeted to lower ‑income students, and is more complex to convey and administer than other financial aid programs, reducing MCS award coverage could be among the least disruptive choices the Legislature  faces.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5127

The 2021-22 Budget: Initial Comments on the Governor’s May Revision

May 17, 2021 - More importantly, the Legislature ’s time to deliberate over choices made in this budget is extremely limited. We recommend the Legislature delay some of those decisions and offer options for doing so.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4432

The 2023-24 Budget: University of California

Feb 15, 2023 - Students choosing the TAG option submit a supplemental TAG application to their UC campus of choice. As long as they meet the course and GPA requirements, they are guaranteed admission into their campus of choice.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4684

Assessment of CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025

Dec 10, 2025 - Though GI  2025 tied state funding to a clear set of objectives, having multiple objectives meant campuses had to make key choices regarding how much effort and resources to dedicate to each objective.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5099

The 2025-26 Budget: Overview of the Governor's Budget

Jan 13, 2025 - Before accounting for discretionary choices, the budget position under the administration ’s estimates is similar to what it was under our November estimates. That is, both of our offices have assessed that the budget is roughly balanced.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4951

The 2019-20 Budget: Higher Education Analysis

Feb 21, 2019 - Eligible Students Have Access to UC System, Not First ‑Choice Campus. For both freshman and transfer applicants, eligibility guarantees admission to the UC system but not to a particular campus. When applicants are not admitted to their campus of choice, UC refers them to less ‑selective campuses.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3946

The 2025-26 Budget: Higher Education Overview

Feb 6, 2025 - Campuses generally would have some discretion in making these choices. Some of these actions could affect students —leaving them potentially with larger classes, fewer course offerings, and student support services that could take longer to access.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4957

The 2016-17 Budget: Review of UC’s Merced Campus Expansion Proposal

Feb 10, 2016 - Currently, eligible students not admitted to a campus of their choice are offered admission at Merced. Legislature Increasingly Concerned About Resident Access to High –Demand Campuses. In recent years, UC ’s highest –demand campuses have become increasingly more selective for resident students.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/3349

The 2023-24 Budget: California State University

Feb 7, 2023 - For example, if CSU continues to remove stricter admissions criteria from previously impacted campuses or programs, yield rates might increase as more students get into their campus of choice. In addition, given the incentives created under CSU ’s new enrollment reallocation plan, campuses might pursue additional recruitment and retention strategies.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4671

The 2024-25 Budget: California Community Colleges

Feb 21, 2024 - Such an approach sets up the state for more difficult choices next year. Were the Legislature not to provide the COLA in 2024 ‑25, it would lessen the ongoing shortfall for CCC programs and allow for better choices in 2025 ‑26.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4853