Our Impact

Igniting change at the intersection of
higher education, equity, and the economy

Since 2011, California Competes has been conducting policy research, identifying solutions, and guiding decision makers to address the most pressing issues in California’s higher education and workforce systems.

2025 Impact HIGHLIGHTS

Advanced a more 
seamless, agile, and coordinated system

Energized leaders to reimagine the future of higher education

Demonstrated the value of college

and informed strategies to improve its uneven payoffs through a new research series on higher education’s ROI

Engaged dozens of legislators and their staff

at two California Higher Education Policy Institutes to support evidence-based policymaking

Built momentum for multigenerational success

by facilitating thorough, smooth, and timely implementation of the GAINS for Student Parents Act

Accelerated flexible, student-centered learning

through field-shaping leadership, resources, and convenings on AI and innovation

Created over 40 resources and research publications

to drive equity-centered policy reforms

Sparked critical conversations

with over 85 media mentions, speaking engagements, and convenings

Through our research, we enable strategic decision-making to:

…ensure more students from underrepresented communities earn college credentials

  • Unlocking access to financial aid for over 150,000 adults through Cal Grant equity reforms
  • Changing laws to provide California’s 400,000+ student parents with improved connections to financial aid, basic needs resources, and priority registration, as well as equipping colleges to better identify them
  • Improving college affordability with our Public Benefit Finder tool, connecting students to 30+ support programs

…strengthen the connection between higher education and good jobs

  • Launching 5 collective action initiatives to make transitions from college to employment seamless
  • Guiding policymakers to better coordinate over $17 billion in state investments via the Governor’s executive order on career education and the California Education Interagency Council
  • Elevating the untapped opportunity to address workforce shortages by supporting the 6.8 million California adults who have a high school diploma but no college degree

...fuel California’s economic strength, resilience, and growth.

  • Playing a central role in the adoption and development of the California Cradle-to-Career Data System, which delivers over 200 metrics and over 1 billion data points on education and workforce outcomes.
  • Steering policymakers to refine commitments for over $2 billion in funding to more smartly address student housing insecurity
  • Strengthening collaboration among all within the higher education ecosystem so California’s 2+ million students progress through and between systems smoothly to reach their full potential
See where we’re featured
Help us shape policy in California
Learn more about our work