Beyond the Cap and Gown: UC’s Narrowing but Persistent Inequities in Student Debt

Five years after our 2019 analysis of student borrowing rates across the University of California (UC) system, TICAS partnered with the University of California Student Association (UCSA) again to evaluate the state of affordability and student debt for undergraduates at the UC, and their implications for student success. While our analysis finds improvement across several affordability metrics, concerning inequities in borrowing persist, especially by income, race/ethnicity, and disability status.  

The UC system’s institutional aid program makes it a leader among its peers, but there is still room to strengthen affordability and close equity gaps in degree attainment. Our analysis offers targeted recommendations to build upon UC’s efforts to strengthen student success and advance an affordability guarantee that eliminates the need to borrow.