The following statement can be attributed to CSU Chancellor Mildred García:
“The California State University (CSU) appreciates the Legislature and Governor's commitment to increasing funding for the CSU in this year's budget despite the state's severe and ongoing budget deficit.
However, the CSU's fiscal challenges persist—we face a funding gap of approximately $200 million entering year 2024-25. Additional cuts and deferrals intended for the CSU budget in the following two years would exacerbate our significant fiscal challenges and further complicate the already difficult cost-savings measures our 23 universities are currently undertaking.
The CSU remains one of California's best investments, elevating lives, families and communities across the state through the transformative power of higher education. We look forward to ongoing partnership with our state's leadership as we work together to ensure that our nearly half a million diverse, talented students are not harmed by budget cuts and will continue to thrive."
In the final 2024-25 state budget, the CSU will receive a 5% state funding increase as part of the multiyear compact agreement, paired with a one-time cut of $75 million, for a net total of approximately $165 million of new operating budget funding.
In addition, the following has been outlined in future budget cycles:
- For 2025-26, the state intends to impose a 7.95% reduction of ongoing funding to the CSU's operating budget, equivalent to a cut of $397 million.
- The state intends to defer 2025-26 compact funding in the amount of $252 million ongoing to 2026-27.
- The state intends to defer 2026-27 compact funding in the amount of $264 million ongoing to 2027-28.
About the California State University
The California State University is the nation's largest four-year public university system, providing transformational opportunities for upward mobility to more than 450,000 students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. More than half of CSU students are from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, and more than one-quarter of undergraduates are first-generation college students. Because the CSU's 23 universities provide a high-quality education at an incredible value, they are rated among the best in the nation for promoting social mobility in national college rankings from U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal and Washington Monthly. The CSU powers California and the nation, sending nearly 127,000 career-ready graduates into the workforce each year. In fact, one in every 20 Americans holding a college degree earned it at the CSU. Connect with and learn more about the CSU in the CSU newsroom.