Defying the narrative of a post-pandemic enrollment slump, California's Community Colleges are surging with over 2 million students, a more diverse and ambitious population than ever, who are reshaping their futures and the state's workforce through unprecedented access to tuition-free pathways, high-tech instruction, and career-launching credentials.
Key Takeaways
- The California Community Colleges (CCC) system enrolled 2,099,093 total students in headcount during Fall 2022, marking a 3.5% increase from Fall 2021.
- Unduplicated headcount enrollment in CCC for Fall 2022 stood at 1,988,905 students, reflecting a 4.2% year-over-year growth.
- Full-Time Equivalent Students (FTES) in CCC reached 367,439 in Fall 2022, up 2.8% from the previous year.
- CCC's total unrestricted general fund revenue for 2022-23 was $8.9 billion.
- State apportionment funding to CCC amounted to $6.2 billion in 2022-23.
- CCC property tax revenue contributed $2.1 billion to colleges in 2022-23.
- California Community Colleges offer over 10,000 associate degree programs across 116 colleges.
- CCC system provides 400,000 workforce training certificates annually.
- Transfer degrees awarded by CCC totaled 80,000 in 2021-22.
- CCC transfer rate to four-year universities is 20% for associate completers.
- 250,000 credentials awarded by CCC in 2021-22 including degrees and certs.
- CCC course completion rate averaged 72% in 2021-22.
- CCC has 116 colleges and 10 districts serving all 58 California counties.
- CCC campuses total over 500 locations including centers and satellites.
- State bond funding built 1,200 new buildings for CCC since 2002.
The California Community Colleges saw increased enrollment and strong student outcomes last year.
Enrollment Statistics
- The California Community Colleges (CCC) system enrolled 2,099,093 total students in headcount during Fall 2022, marking a 3.5% increase from Fall 2021.
- Unduplicated headcount enrollment in CCC for Fall 2022 stood at 1,988,905 students, reflecting a 4.2% year-over-year growth.
- Full-Time Equivalent Students (FTES) in CCC reached 367,439 in Fall 2022, up 2.8% from the previous year.
- CCC saw 418,000 new first-time students enroll in 2021-22 academic year.
- Female students comprised 54.2% of CCC total headcount enrollment in Fall 2022.
- Hispanic/Latino students made up 49.8% of CCC unduplicated headcount in Fall 2022.
- CCC enrollment of Black/African American students was 104,500 in headcount for Fall 2022.
- Students aged 18-24 represented 42.1% of CCC total enrollment in Fall 2022.
- Online enrollment in CCC accounted for 52% of total course enrollments in 2021-22.
- CCC dual enrollment with high schools reached 242,000 students in 2021-22.
- Total CCC headcount enrollment in Fall 2021 was 2,028,539 students.
- CCC FTES for 2021-22 fiscal year totaled 1,120,000.
- Asian students constituted 4.5% of CCC enrollment in Fall 2022.
- White students were 22.4% of CCC unduplicated enrollment in Fall 2022.
- CCC students over age 50 comprised 5.2% of enrollment in Fall 2022.
- Male students in CCC were 45.8% of total headcount in Fall 2022.
- Multi-ethnic students accounted for 3.1% of CCC enrollment in Fall 2022.
- CCC international student enrollment was approximately 5,000 in 2021-22.
- Foster youth enrollment in CCC reached 12,000 students in 2021-22.
- Veterans enrolled in CCC numbered around 8,500 in recent years.
- CCC homelessness-impacted students totaled 22,000 in 2021-22 surveys.
- First-generation students made up 65% of CCC enrollees in 2022.
- Low-income students represented 55% of CCC enrollment in Fall 2022.
- CCC course enrollment sections totaled 1.2 million in 2021-22.
- Headcount enrollment growth in CCC non-credit courses was 5% in 2022.
- CCC enrollment in STEM fields increased by 7% from 2020 to 2022.
- Disability services students in CCC numbered 120,000 in 2021-22.
- CCC apprenticeship enrollees reached 25,000 in 2022.
- Total CCC credit enrollment headcount was 1.8 million in Fall 2022.
- CCC Promise program served 500,000 students tuition-free in 2021-22.
Enrollment Statistics Interpretation
While the raw numbers show a community college system bouncing back with a 3.5% enrollment increase, the real story is one of transformation, where over half of all classes are now online, nearly half the students are Hispanic/Latino, and an astonishing 242,000 high schoolers are getting a head start on their futures.
Financial Data
- CCC's total unrestricted general fund revenue for 2022-23 was $8.9 billion.
- State apportionment funding to CCC amounted to $6.2 billion in 2022-23.
- CCC property tax revenue contributed $2.1 billion to colleges in 2022-23.
- Student fees generated $250 million for CCC system in 2021-22.
- CCC total expenditures reached $13.4 billion in 2021-22 fiscal year.
- Instructional salaries in CCC accounted for 35% of total expenditures in 2022.
- CCC capital outlay budget was $900 million for facilities in 2022-23.
- Federal funding to CCC totaled $1.5 billion including COVID relief in 2021-22.
- CCC student financial aid disbursed $2.8 billion in 2021-22.
- Average CCC college unrestricted general fund per FTES was $7,200 in 2022-23.
- CCC lottery funds distributed $200 million to colleges in 2022.
- Non-instructional expenditures in CCC were 25% of total budget in 2022.
- CCC deferred maintenance funding allocated $500 million in 2023 budget.
- Total CCC revenue from local sources was $2.5 billion in 2021-22.
- CCC workforce development grants totaled $150 million in 2022-23.
- Academic salaries comprised 28% of CCC personnel costs in 2022.
- CCC STRS pension contributions were $850 million in 2022-23.
- Operational services expenditures in CCC reached $1.2 billion in 2021-22.
- CCC Proposition 98 funding guarantee was $10.3 billion for 2022-23.
- Student services budget in CCC was $1.1 billion in 2022.
- CCC reserves held $1.4 billion across districts in 2022.
- Institutional support costs totaled 12% of CCC expenditures in 2022.
- CCC Perkins grants for career tech were $70 million in 2022.
- Total CCC bond funding for construction exceeded $15 billion since 2000.
- CCC Chancellor’s Office budget was $45 million in 2022-23.
Financial Data Interpretation
California's community colleges are essentially running a high-stakes educational bistro where the state is the primary but somewhat frugal sugar daddy, property owners and federal aid help cover the appetizers, and despite the impressive-sounding revenue, they're still somehow managing to spend significantly more than they take in while juggling pensions, crumbling buildings, and the hopes of millions of students.
Infrastructure and Facilities
- CCC has 116 colleges and 10 districts serving all 58 California counties.
- CCC campuses total over 500 locations including centers and satellites.
- State bond funding built 1,200 new buildings for CCC since 2002.
- CCC invests $1 billion annually in facilities maintenance and upgrades.
- High-tech labs and makerspaces exist on 80% of CCC campuses.
- CCC fiber optic network connects all 116 colleges for online learning.
- Sustainable buildings certified LEED in 50+ CCC facilities.
- CCC student housing beds total 20,000 across select colleges.
- Instructional space square footage in CCC exceeds 100 million sq ft.
- CCC digital infrastructure supports 50,000 concurrent online users.
Infrastructure and Facilities Interpretation
While some systems struggle to keep the lights on, the California Community Colleges have been busy building a comprehensive, high-tech, and sustainable physical and digital ecosystem that now educates over two million students across the state.
Program Offerings
- California Community Colleges offer over 10,000 associate degree programs across 116 colleges.
- CCC system provides 400,000 workforce training certificates annually.
- Transfer degrees awarded by CCC totaled 80,000 in 2021-22.
- CCC noncredit enrollment serves 300,000 adults yearly in basic skills.
- Career Technical Education (CTE) programs in CCC number over 7,000.
- CCC offers 115 bachelor's degree programs as of 2023 pilot expansion.
- Online and distance education courses in CCC exceed 30,000 sections per year.
- CCC apprenticeship programs train 25,000 apprentices annually across 1,000 occupations.
- ESL programs in CCC serve 150,000 English learners each year.
- CCC dual enrollment courses offered 50,000 high school sections in 2021-22.
- STEM programs in CCC include 2,500 unique certificates and degrees.
- CCC Guided Pathways framework implemented in 100+ colleges serving 90% of students.
- Nursing and allied health programs in CCC graduate 12,000 students yearly.
- CCC offers 500+ fully online degree programs across the system.
- Automotive technology certificates issued by CCC exceed 10,000 annually.
- CCC basic skills courses enroll 400,000 students per year.
- Cybersecurity programs in CCC have grown to 150 offerings since 2018.
- CCC study abroad programs engage 2,000 students annually pre-COVID.
- Culinary arts programs across CCC award 5,000 credentials yearly.
- CCC Vision 2030 goals include expanding baccalaureate to 40 colleges.
Program Offerings Interpretation
The California Community Colleges system is a sprawling, slightly miraculous engine of economic mobility, quietly cranking out everything from nursing credentials to cybersecurity certificates while also shepherding tens of thousands toward bachelor's degrees, all with the pragmatic ambition of a state that knows its future workforce is currently sitting in one of its 30,000 online sections.
Student Outcomes
- CCC transfer rate to four-year universities is 20% for associate completers.
- 250,000 credentials awarded by CCC in 2021-22 including degrees and certs.
- CCC course completion rate averaged 72% in 2021-22.
- 85% of CCC students who complete 30 units achieve a GPA above 2.0.
- Median earnings for CCC associate degree holders are $48,000 two years post-graduation.
- 70% of CCC CTE certificate completers find employment in field within a year.
- CCC student success momentum points metric shows 45% progress rate.
- Transfer to UC/CSU from CCC increased 5% to 25,000 students in 2022.
- Persistence rate from fall to spring in CCC is 78% for first-time students.
- CCC equity gaps in completion closed by 10% since 2018 for underserved groups.
- 60% of CCC graduates transfer or complete within 4 years.
- Employment rate for CCC completers is 80% six months post-award.
- CCC basic skills progress rate improved to 55% in 2022.
- Student satisfaction surveys in CCC show 90% positive experience rate.
- Wage gains for CCC participants average 30% post-program.
- CCC Scorecard shows 35% completion rate for degree-seeking cohort.
- 15% of CCC students earn 60 units within 3 years, key transfer metric.
- Equity in math completion improved 12% for Latinx students in CCC.
- CCC alumni comprise 40% of California's nursing workforce.
- 92% of CCC employers rate completers as well-prepared for jobs.
- CCC long-term transfer success rate to bachelor's is 25% within 6 years.
Student Outcomes Interpretation
While the California Community Colleges system is clearly a vital economic engine and a launchpad for many, its core promise of universal transfer remains more of a hopeful trajectory than a guaranteed destination, as only a quarter of students ultimately complete that journey to a bachelor's degree.