The majority of Californians believe that tuition for the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) is too expensive, according to a poll conducted by Strategies 360.
The results of the April 2022 California Opinion found that 77 percent of Californians strongly value higher education but less than 40 percent believe UC and CSU schools are affordable. According to the poll, 60 percent believe that UC schools are unaffordable while 55 percent shared the same sentiment about CSU schools.
Broken down by demographics at UC Schools, 41 percent of Asians, 36 percent of whites, 29 percent of blacks, and 28 percent of Latinos found it affordable.
Of the 33 percent of Californians that said CSU schools were affordable, 52 percent identified as Asian, 41 percent as white, 38 percent as black, and 27 percent as Latino.
The average cost of attendance at a CSU ranges from about $17,000 to just over $34,000 a year, according to released estimates for the 2022-2023 year. The costs vary depending on the credits taken and where the student lives.
The estimated average cost of attendance at a UC ranges from just over $35,000 to more than $38,000, depending on if the student lives on or off-campus. According to the UC system, over 70 percent of California undergrads receive an average of $18,000 in grants and scholarships to help with costs, including UC tuition, food, housing, transportation, books, and supplies.
An even higher 84 percent believed that a post-secondary degree of any kind, such as a community college or a trade training center, is "very valuable", echoing the value Californians place on attaining higher education.
Despite the value placed on higher education, only 33 percent believe a four-year degree is needed as a pathway to a successful and profitable career.
When asked about how university systems should cover the shortfall, 24 percent said taxpayers should pick up a large share of the cost, 18 percent said that student tuition should be increased, 28 percent said some of each, while 30 percent did not provide an answer.
The poll was conducted by interviewing 1,200 California adults between April 7-18.
