This article has been updated to reflect 2026 data and recent developments.
While many community colleges across the country are bursting at the seams with their increasing enrollment numbers, California schools are now seeing enrollment growth as well. The largest community college system in the U.S. has rebounded from pandemic-era declines. According to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, the system now includes 116 colleges and serves about 2.2 million students. As the system continues to lure students, many wonder if the higher cost, fewer classes, or poor track record could leave these schools lacking for students.
The Student Shut-Out
According to earlier reports, around 600,000 community college students had been shut out of the state’s system in the years following the Great Recession. Budget cuts that led to fewer course selections contributed to the student shut-out. In addition, findings in a report by the Public Policy Institute of California showed a total community college student population of 2.4 million during the 2011-2012 school year. That number marked a significant decrease in enrollment from the 2.9 million students enrolled in state community colleges during 2008-2009. By 2026, however, the enrollment picture had changed, with the California Legislative Analyst’s Office reporting a substantial recovery from pandemic-era enrollment declines.
Sarah Bohn, the lead researcher for the PPIC report, called the results “troubling.” She made note of the fact that fewer students were pursuing higher education at a time when California required more skilled workers to beef up its high-tech industries. It was particularly concerning considering more students were graduating from California high schools, leading some researchers to wonder whether those high school graduates were attending any type of higher education.
State Budget Woes
State budget cuts were one of the primary reasons for the massive student shut-out. The Ventura County Star reported that cutbacks in state funding had totaled more than $1.5 billion since 2007. While that amount was split between the colleges in the community college system at the time, the impact of the cuts was significant at nearly every school. Faculty cutbacks led to the need to limit the number of courses available, which in turn limited the number of students that could enroll.
California’s budget picture is different in 2026. The California Legislative Analyst’s Office reports additional funding for enrollment growth and other community college priorities in the 2026-2027 budget. Students weighing these changes can also consider whether community college is still worth it in 2026 when comparing affordability, transfer opportunities, and career preparation. While the extra money will help support the system, community colleges still have to balance enrollment, staffing, course availability, and operating costs.
This lengthy video discusses declining college enrollments.
Local Funds Not Covering The Difference
While state funding has fluctuated over the years, other means of support have not always been able to make up the difference. Sources of local funding, such as lottery proceeds, have historically helped support community colleges. This makes state funding important for these schools, but unfortunately, state lawmakers can’t simply pull more money out of the proverbial magic hat so that community colleges can make ends meet.
Instead, community colleges must balance tuition and fee revenue with state and local funding in an effort to meet their costs. Tuition and other college costs can still rise above the means of many students who would otherwise turn to community colleges to land a well-paying job. In addition, tuition and fees alone are not sufficient in closing the gap between what community colleges need and what state and local funding provides.
Rising Fees
California lawmakers responsible for setting fee rates at community colleges increased those rates substantially in earlier years. The current fee price at state community colleges remains $46 per academic unit. That number is much higher than the $26-per-unit fee charged in 2008. Students comparing California with other states can use Community College Review’s average community college tuition cost in 2026 to put those costs into a broader national context. When you combine that rate with other college costs, it is easy to see how some students can still struggle to afford the community college system.
Students that are getting hardest hit by college costs may include first-time students and those returning to school after an absence of one or more semesters. The latter group encompasses professionals who have faced layoffs and have tried to return to school to get the re-training necessary to find new employment. Students faring the best may include those already enrolled in college and pursuing degrees or transfers to four-year institutions.
Fewer Courses
Less money to community colleges can translate into fewer courses available to students, in some cases, a significantly lower number of course offerings. The severe reductions reported after the 2007-2008 school year occurred during an earlier period of budget cuts, while California’s current funding and enrollment picture is different. The state is now providing funding to support enrollment growth rather than experiencing the same systemwide reductions in course offerings.
Fewer course selections mean students often can’t get the classes they need to complete their degree program. Some get frustrated and drop out of the system. Others linger on wait lists for extended periods of time in hopes they will finally land a spot in the coveted and much-needed class. Class sizes can also increase, making it more challenging for students to get the help they need if they face challenges in a particular course. Students pursuing transfers to four-year institutions can use Community College Review’s 10 tips for successful community college transfers when planning the courses they need to complete.
This video offers another look at declining college enrollments.
All of these factors add up to a statewide community college system that has changed considerably since the enrollment declines described in the original article. California is no longer experiencing the same systemwide enrollment decline, but the state still needs the skilled workers its community colleges help prepare for its high-tech workforce. As California continues to invest in higher education, funding, affordability, course availability, and student access remain important issues.
