State of CA Learners

At College Futures Foundation, we believe rebuilding the California Dream begins with truly seeing and hearing the learners who are shaping its future. That means moving beyond outdated assumptions about who postsecondary education is for and centering the voices of those too often left out of traditional narratives: working learners, students of color, caregivers, and those who have stopped out or never enrolled. Postsecondary education cannot be a system built for the past. It must evolve to reflect the lives and goals of today’s learners.

For us at College Futures, listening to learners across our state is a steadfast commitment and one we return to year after year.

We’ve partnered with Gallup and others to conduct deep, ongoing research into the experiences, motivations, and barriers voiced by California learners, particularly adults aged 25 and older. This growing body of work surfaces hard truths and real aspirations: Most learners see education as a path to economic mobility, but too many face financial, emotional, and logistical barriers that make that path far too steep.

California is the fourth largest economy in the world. But if we want that economy to be inclusive, we must ensure every learner has a clear, supported path to upward mobility. That imperative is at the heart of the upcoming 2025 State of the Learner Address from our president & CEO Eloy Ortiz Oakley. We hope you’ll engage with what we’re hearing and join us in asking bold, necessary questions: What if our systems were built with working learners in mind? What if every learner belonged—and could thrive? What if economic mobility was the rule, not the exception?

The time to reimagine postsecondary systems around real learners is now. California’s future depends on it.