The 2026-27 Budget: California Community Colleges

Mar 5, 2026 - This budgeting approach creates a cushion that helps protect ongoing programs. The one‑time spending will expire in 2027‑28, freeing up funds that could help the state accommodate a possible decrease in the minimum guarantee before having to reduce programs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5150

The 2026-27 Budget: Higher Education Overview

Feb 5, 2026 - Moreover, students from low ‑ and middle ‑income households would continue to receive Cal Grants to help with college costs. In 2025 ‑26, about 50  percent of MCS recipients also receive Cal Grants. In addition, students from lower ‑income households may receive federal Pell Grants and institutional grants to help with college costs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5112

The 2026-27 Budget: California Education Learning Lab

Mar 25, 2026 - Learning Lab grants, in turn, have helped improve some student learning outcomes and narrowed equity gaps in certain courses at certain campuses. For example, some Learning Lab projects have resulted in higher pass rates for certain STEM courses while other projects have been linked to improving students ’ motivation and sense of belonging.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5171

Assessment of CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025

Dec 10, 2025 - For example, to increase the six‑year rate, campuses had to focus on activities that helped students, primarily first‑ and second‑year students, persist. These activities (such as offering math supplemental instruction for freshmen) differ from the activities needed to help students graduate faster (such as offering more course sections).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5099

The 2026-27 Budget: University of California

Feb 26, 2026 - UC also receives overhead revenue associated with federal contracts and grants —known as federal indirect cost recovery —that helps support campus research infrastructure and certain central administrative costs.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5143

The 2026-27 Budget: California Student Aid Commission

Feb 17, 2026 - To help mitigate this issue, in 2025 ‑26, rather than setting the appropriation for MCS and adjusting award coverage accordingly, the state locked in the percentage of award coverage that year at 35  percent.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5127

Trends in Higher Education [Publication Details]

Apr 30, 2025 - The first is to help legislators, staff, and the general public track many of the key changes that higher education has undergone over the past few decades. The second is to help legislators better navigate the future.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5071

Assessment of the Strong Workforce Program

Dec 10, 2025 - SWP was intended to help address this disincentive by providing categorical funding to expand CTE. Program Emphasizes Regional Coordination. As a condition of receiving SWP funds, community college districts are required to participate in regional consortia.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5098

The 2026-27 Budget: California State University

Feb 24, 2026 - To mitigate this issue, we recommend the Legislature adopt provisional budget language earmarking some share of any approved base increase for capital renewal projects to help campuses make progress on def erred maintenance and critical facility renewals.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5142

The 2025-26 California Spending Plan: Higher Education

Nov 14, 2025 - The 2025-26 budget also includes $1.9  million one-time General Fund to help CSAC address general cost increases. Starting in 2026-27, the state intends to provide $3  million ongoing General Fund for CSAC to continue addressing operating cost increases.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5089