The 2024-25 Budget: California State Library

Mar 13, 2024 - This program gives funding priority to libraries located in communities with poverty rates higher than the statewide poverty rate. The program has a local matching requirement, with grant recipients generall y required to contribute half of the funding for a project.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4882

The 2021-22 Budget: California Institutes for Science and Innovation

Mar 2, 2021 - Today, UC reports total core funding for the institutes of $16.6 million, consisting of state funds and campus funds. On top of this core funding, the institutes receive additional funds from federal grants, private donations, and other external sources for specific research and other limited‑term endeavors.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4394

The 2026-27 Budget: University of California

Feb 26, 2026 - After accounting for workforce growth, salary growth largely matched inflation, with little to no growth in inflation ‑adjusted wages for core ‑funded employees over the past decade. Rising Pension Costs Are Due to Both Workforce Expansion and Rate Increases.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5143

Trends in Higher Education: Student Outcomes [Publication Details]

Apr 18, 2024 - This brief is the third of a six-part series covering higher education trends in California. The third brief focuses on student outcomes and how they have changed over the past few decades. The brief also raises key issues for the Legislature to consider as it makes related policy and budget decisions.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/4895

Assessment of CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025

Dec 10, 2025 - CSU has also already set systemwide retention rate targets for the 2027 fall cohort: 88  percent first ‑year retention rate (a  4 ‑percentage ‑point increase), 81  percent second ‑year rate (a 9 ‑percentage ‑point increase), and 78  percent third ‑year rate (an 8 ‑percentage ‑point increase).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5099

Assessment of CSU’s Graduation Initiative 2025 [Publication Details]

Dec 10, 2025 - This report focuses on the California State University’s (CSU’s) Graduation Initiative 2025 (GI 2025). This initiative aimed to increase graduation rates and close gaps in graduation rates among particular student groups by 2025. In the report, we provide background on GI 2025, then discuss associated funding and activities.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Detail/5099

The 2026-27 Budget: California Community Colleges

Mar 5, 2026 - We recommend deciding on the COLA rate after better information is available this spring. By the May Revision, the Legislature w ill have finalized data on the price index typically used to calculate the COLA rate.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5150

Trends in Higher Education: Student Access

Jan 23, 2024 - Much of that guide remains relevant today and can assist those who are looking for more basic information on education policy and fiscal matters in California. California's Higher Education System California ’s public higher education sector consists of the California Community Colleges (CCC), California State University (CSU), and University of California (UC).
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4828

The 2022-23 Budget: UC Climate-Related Proposals

Feb 16, 2022 - The state provided one ‑time General Fund to support the construction of the institutes, and today the institutes receive ongoing General Fund support for their operations. (We provide more information on these institutes in our brief The 2021‑22 Budget: The California Institutes for Science and Innovation .)
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4538

The 2026-27 Budget: California State University

Feb 24, 2026 - Pension Contribution Rates Have Remained Relatively Flat in Recent Years. CalPERS additionally administers pension benefits for CSU and most other state employees. The CalPERS Board sets employer contribution rates for pensions as a percentage of payroll.
https://lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/5142