Budget cuts, higher tuition, waitlists and fewer courses are the main reasons students are leaving the state to attend college.
Students are finding the cost of out-of-state tuition to be worth the move, with the promise of graduating sooner, more course selections and less debt through more readily available scholarships and financial aid on the horizon.
Nearby universities, such as Boise State, Arizona State University and The University of Oregon, have seen major increases in freshmen enrollment from California. According to “More students than ever leave California for college” (Sacramento Bee), fewer than 10% of students graduate in four years at several CSU campuses, while Arizona State University graduates about 30% of students at that same rate.
To many students, graduating within four years is a top priority. More years in college can translate into borrowing more money, and with a grim job market, the idea of graduating in debt is a tough pill for students to swallow.
Stricter admission standards at California colleges are also turning students towards other states. Many universities have been forced to turn away qualified students due to lack of capacity.
“I got rejected from a lot of universities that I thought I would get into,” Jacob Williams (freshman, Undeclared) said. “It was disheartening, but that’s just the way things are now.”
While the number of first-time students has declined throughout the UC, CSU, and California community colleges since 2008, California State University, Stanislaus saw a 21.6% increase of first-time freshmen from 2010 to 2011.
In recent years, the number of California students leaving the state for college has exceeded the number of students coming to study at California’s universities. If these numbers are not reversed, the future of California’s economy is at risk.
With the baby-boomer generation retiring within the next decade, the need for college graduates is greater than ever. If students leave the state for college and do not return once they graduate, California might not have enough college-educated citizens in the workforce to sustain the economy.
“I just think something major needs to be done really soon,” said Amelia Griffen (senior, Criminal Justice). “If not, everyone will feel the crunch, not just students.”