Higher Ed Accountability Watchdog Urges UC Regents Not to Raise the Cap on Out-of-State Students

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), a national higher education accountability group based in Washington, DC, criticized a proposal to cap out-of-state enrollment in the University of California (UC) System. Regents will consider this week a proposal by the UC administration that would impose a system-wide, out-of-state enrollment cap of 20%. As a whole, the UC system is already below this cap. But, the proposal would allow the most prestigious campuses—UC─Berkeley, UC─San Diego, and UC─Los Angeles—which already enroll more than 20% of their students from outside California, to maintain, though not exceed, their current enrollment levels.

A 2016 report from California’s state auditor found that the UC system has harmed local students through its decision to favor out-of-state students as a means of capturing greater tuition income. ACTA President Michael Poliakoff said of the proposal:

“This is a cap in name only. Allowing the most selective UC campuses to continue their high levels of out-of-state enrollment is antithetical to the democratic promise of public higher education. As a public university system, UC’s first duty is to serve the tax-paying California families who sustain the system. The addiction to out-of-state tuition dollars must stop. Unfortunately, this proposal is a non-solution for California’s students, who are already squeezed out of top institutions. The regents should reject this quick fix and find a sustainable, long-term solution that balances the needs of Californian families with the financial interests of the system.”

CONTACT: Christine Ravold, media@goacta.org