Population: 7,739,378, making up 20 percent of the state population
Counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma
Number of public colleges in the region: 33
Population: 2,345,698, making up 6 percent of the state population
Counties: Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Ventura
Number of public colleges in the region: 14
Population: 190,950, making up less than 1 percent of the state population
Counties: Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Inyo, Mariposa, Mono, Tuolumne
Number of public colleges in the region: 1
Population: 181,215, making up less than 1 percent of the state population
Population: 4,650,631, making up 12 percent of the state population
Counties: Riverside, San Bernardino
Population: 10,039,107, making up 25 percent of the state population
Number of public colleges in the region: 27
Population: 699,105, making up 2 percent of the state population
Counties: Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Del Norte, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Plumas, Siskiyou, Sierra, Shasta
Number of public colleges in the region: 7
Population: 3,175,692, making up 8 percent of the state population
Number of public colleges in the region: 11
Population: 2,539,369, making up 6 percent of the state population
Counties: El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba
Number of public colleges in the region: 10
Population: 3,338,330, making up 8 percent of the state population
Population: 4,266,253, making up 11 percent of the state population
Counties: Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tulare
Number of public colleges in the region: 18
Population: 346,495, making up less than 1 percent of the state population
Counties: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Tehama, Trinity
Number of public colleges in the region: 2
Population:
39.5 million
Number of public colleges in the state: 150
Region: Bay Area
Population: 1,671,329
Number of public colleges in the county: 9
Region: Central Sierra
Population: 1,129
Number of public colleges in the county: 0
Population: 39,752
Region: Upper Sacramento Valley
Population: 219,186
Number of public colleges in the county: 2
Population: 45,905
Population: 21,547
Population: 1,153,526
Number of public colleges in the county: 3
Region: North-Far North
Population: 27,812
Region: Sacramento-Tahoe
Population: 192,843
Number of public colleges in the county: 1
Region: San Joaquin Valley
Population: 999,101
Number of public colleges in the county: 5
Population: 28,393
Population: 135,558
Region: Imperial
Population: 181,215
Population: 18,039
Population: 900,202
Number of public colleges in the county: 4
Population: 152,940
Population: 64,386
Population: 30,573
Region: Los Angeles
Population: 10,039,107
Number of public colleges in the county: 27
Population: 157,327
Population: 258,826
Population: 17,203
Population: 86,749
Population: 277,680
Population: 8,841
Population: 14,444
Region: Central Coast
Population: 434,061
Population: 137,744
Population: 99,755
Region: Orange
Population: 3,175,692
Number of public colleges in the county: 11
Population: 398,329
Regions: North-Far North
Population: 18,807
Region: Inland Empire
Population: 2,470,546
Number of public colleges in the county: 7
Population: 1,552,058
Population: 2,180,085
Region: San Diego
Population: 3,338,330
Population: 881,549
Population: 762,148
Population: 283,111
Population: 766,573
Population: 446,499
Population: 1,927,852
Number of public colleges in the county: 8
Population: 273,213
Population: 180,080
Population: 3,005
Population: 43,539
Population: 447,643
Population: 494,336
Population: 550,660
Population: 96,971
Population: 65,084
Population: 12,285
Population: 466,195
Population: 54,478
Population: 846,006
Population: 220,500
Population: 78,668
College readiness and access are the first steps to college success. Access to a rigorous college preparatory curriculum is not universal, and differences exist in who goes to college and where they go based on demographic characteristics, such as racial/ethnic groups. Homeless, foster youth, English language learners, and students with disabilities also face tremendous barriers in accessing and succeeding in college.
Moreover, the postsecondary education system’s focus on the traditional student’s pathway (one who matriculates directly to college) leaves limited opportunities for older adults interested in higher education to successfully complete a postsecondary credential.
The inequitable access to postsecondary education leads to significant differences in the region’s educational attainment by race/ethnicity.
*High school students must complete a set of courses known as “A-G” to be eligible for admission to the California State University and University of California.
A university desert is the percentage of communities in the region without a public university or college with acceptance rates greater than 60%.
Workforce participation and employment rates, which vary by race/ethnicity, are key measures that outline opportunities for economic mobility. In some instances, despite working over 40 hours a week, some Californians still struggle to earn a living wage. Access to high road jobs is critical to promoting a high quality of life and economic vibrancy.
Though it is impossible to quantify prosperity, markers like health insurance, homeownership, and economic development signify pathways to prosperity. Mechanisms that reflect stability, build wealth, promote health, and enrich culture shape a community’s ability to thrive. Similarly, wage gaps and communities without critical businesses demonstrate areas that need additional attention for equitable outcomes.
Business deserts are defined as the percentage of communities within a region that lack a particular business.
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