For the thousands of California students who apply to schools in the University of California system each year, an above-4.0 GPA and a plethora of extracurricular activities may no longer be enough.
Some U.C. officials feel increasing the number of out-of-state students admitted into the university system is a good way to boost revenue at a time when state funding is rigid.
Opponents of the idea caution doing so may cut out some of the qualified California residents.
“Educational cost should never be balanced on the back of students,” Pierce College President Robert Garber said. “The U.C. system is a great resource for California – to sell it to the highest bidder seems almost cynical.”
As of now, in-state U.C. freshmen spend $8,100 per year for the cost of schooling, excluding books, room and board.
Out-of-state students, who make up about 10 percent of the graduate and under-graduate programs at U.C. campuses, pay an extra $20,000 each year, according to U.C. officials quoted in a Jan. 6 article by the Los Angeles Times.
Half of the money the out-of-state students pay covers the cost of the U.C., while the other half is profit for the system, officials said.
Garber thinks passing such an initiative would “run afoul for legislature.”
“It’s like selling the public trust,” he said.
“Out-of state students are still eligible for financial aid,” said Anafe Robinson, financial aid manager at Pierce. “Eligibility is based per student situation, not where the person lives.”
“It is unfair that a student may get accepted into a school over me just because they don’t live in California,” said Ayda Memary, a Pierce student who is transferring this year. “I live in here, shouldn’t I get the admission priority?”
By admitting more out-of-state students, campuses may see an increase in the average GPA and SAT scores, as non-Californians are usually held to higher admission standards.
Pierce freshman Jennifer Leon thinks the acceptance letter should go to the person most qualified.
“If an out-of-state student performs better than I do, then they should be accepted over me,” she said, “but if I am more qualified, it is unfair that they get in just because they don’t live here.”
Garber assured that Pierce students have nothing to worry about.
“UCs see great value and have high regard for the education provided by community colleges,” he said.
As long as students “come to community college, excel to the best of their ability and focus on their goals,” he feels they will be fine.