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We need to keep California’s public universities affordable
An opinion article warns that rising tuition and housing costs could make California’s public universities unaffordable for many residents. It argues that this matters because the state’s universities have been both highly regarded and relatively accessible to Californians, but that the cost of attending now threatens that advantage.
The article says in-state tuition rose nearly 20% from 2021 to 2025, while the full annual cost for some families can exceed $50,000 per student. It points to federal student-loan subsidies and high housing costs as factors, and notes that middle-income families may receive little financial aid. Proposed responses include tuition caps, three-year degrees, more housing near campuses, free community college for the first two years, expanded aid and shorter skills certifications.
In short
- Some California families face university costs above $50,000 a year.
- In-state tuition rose nearly 20% between 2021 and 2025.
- The article suggests housing, aid and shorter courses as possible remedies.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Keeping public universities affordable protects Californians’ access to education, social mobility and the state’s skilled workforce. The reported tuition and housing increases, alongside limited aid for some middle-income families, suggest that access may be slipping; measures such as tuition caps, expanded aid and more campus housing could help preserve it.
The case against
Affordability is important, but broad subsidies or tuition caps can shift costs to taxpayers and constrain universities’ ability to pay staff, maintain quality and meet rising demand. Policymakers could instead target help to students most in need and pursue options such as shorter degrees, community college pathways and skills certifications, while weighing whether these approaches deliver value without weakening the universities.
Explained simply
California’s public universities include the University of California and California State University systems. They educate large numbers of students, and keeping places within reach of residents has been part of their role in the state.
The cost of attending includes tuition as well as housing and other living expenses, which can make the total much higher than tuition alone. Financial aid may help, but eligibility and amounts vary, and some middle-income households may receive limited support.
Debates about affordability concern how the state should balance university funding, student costs and access to education. Options discussed include limiting tuition increases, building more campus housing, expanding financial aid and offering shorter or lower-cost routes to degrees and job skills.