An Untapped Opportunity: Californians without a College Degree

As more Californians lose jobs to COVID-19 cutbacks, higher education has a unique opportunity to serve those sidelined workers who don’t have a degree. California Competes’ new research takes a closer look at the 6.8 million Californians aged 25-54 who graduated from high school and didn’t attend or finish college. More vulnerable to unemployment, this population would greatly benefit from streamlined pathways to degrees and certificates. Now more than ever, California’s colleges and universities must prioritize these adults. To do so, postsecondary institutions must better understand the hallmarks of this population.