The 2026-27 Budget: California Student Aid Commission

Feb 17, 2026 - Given the state ’s fiscal outlook, the Legislature likely will need to consider not only this MCS proposal but many other budget ‑balancing proposals over the next couple of years. 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 2026-27 Budget: University of California

Feb 26, 2026 - Given this context, if the Legislature wishes to continue providing base increases to UC despite the challenging budget outlook, it could consider approving smaller increases that are more closely aligned with current inflationary benchmarks —such as the 2.41  percent base increase proposed for community colleges.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5143