By the Numbers: Education in California

AAPI Data Guide on Timely Policy Issues

This supplemental resource guide is designed to provide key insights and perspectives on the issue of education in California for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. (Click here for the national resource guide).

For information related to educational attainment at lower levels of geography, we encourage you to check out our Community Data Explorer tool at https://explore.aapidata.com/

Published: March 25, 2025 | Last updated: March 27, 2025

Click below to jump to a specific topic or issue:

Executive Summary

Key Facts You Need to Know: Education for California AANHPI Communities

  1. Community colleges are disproportionately important to AANHPI student success in California. 44% of Asian American college students in the state are enrolled in 2-year colleges, when compared to 18% of Asian Americans outside California. Similarly, 50% of NHPI students in California are enrolled in 2-year colleges, compared to 23% nationally.
  2. California looms large in its national share of AANHPI community college students. The state accounts for one half of the national share of students enrolled in 2-year colleges for Asian Americans (50%) and more than one third for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (37%). By contrast, the state accounts for 22% of the national share of students enrolled in 4-year colleges among Asian Americans and 17% among NHPIs.
  3. Educational attainment among NHPIs in California exceeds the national average. 22% of NHPIs in California have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 19% of NHPIs nationally.
  4. Racial and ethnic disparities: Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders and several Asian American groups have lower college attainment than the statewide average.
  5. For-profit colleges: Similar to the national picture, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander college students have relatively high enrollment in for-profit institutions. Compared to 8% for the statewide average, nearly 1 in 5 NHPI students (18%) are enrolled in for-profit colleges or universities.
  6. Language learners: Asian languages rank among the top 10 languages spoken by English Language Learner students across transitional kindergarten to 12th grade in California. These include Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Punjabi, and Philippine languages.

Population Data

Educational Attainment

Educational attainment is calculated for adults ages 25 years or older, presuming that most individuals are finished with their formal education by that age.

  • Over 480,000 Asian Americans and over 11,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) in California have less than a high school degree; these account for 1 in 9 Asian Americans (11%) and 1 in 8 NHPIs (13%).
  • On the other end of the spectrum, over 2.4 million Asian Americans and over 20,000 NHPIs in California have a bachelor’s degree or higher; these account for over 1 in 2 Asian Americans (56%), and over 1 in 5 Asian NHPIs (22%).
  • Among the most populous Asian groups in California, those with the lowest levels of educational attainment include Cambodian and Vietnamese. Those with the highest level of educational attainment include Taiwanese, Asian Indian, and Korean.
  • Among NHPI groups in California, Samoans and Tongans have slightly lower rates of college attainment than Chamorro and Native Hawaiian.  

Postsecondary Attendance

Over 8 in 10 Asian American (85%) and just 5 in 10 NHPI (54%) high school students enrolled in college within 12 months of completing high school; the majority of students enrolled in a college in California.

Postsecondary Enrollment

While the majority of Asian American college students in California are enrolled in 4-year colleges, community colleges are disproportionately important to AANHPI student success in California.

  • 44% of Asian American college students in the state are enrolled in 2-year colleges, when compared to 18% of Asian Americans outside California. Similarly, 50% of NHPI students in California are enrolled in 2-year colleges, compared to 23% nationally.
  • California accounts for one half of the national share of students enrolled in 2-year colleges for Asian Americans (50%) and more than one third of the national share for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (37%). By contrast, the state accounts for 22% of the national share of students enrolled in 4-year colleges among Asian Americans and 17% among NHPIs.
  • Over 270,00 Asian American students and almost 7,000 NHPI students in California are enrolled in 4-year colleges, these account for half of Asian American students (55%) and NHPI students (47%).
  • Over 220,000 Asian American students and 7,200 NHPI students in California are enrolled in 2-year colleges; these account for almost or half of Asian American students (44%) and NHPI students (50%).
  • While the majority of Asian American students in California are enrolled at public colleges or universities (84%), there is another 10% enrolled at private (not-for-profit) colleges or universities.
  • NHPI students in California are also mostly enrolled at public colleges or universities (71%). However, 11% of NHPI students are enrolled at private (not-for-profit) and another 18% are enrolled at private (for-profit) colleges or universities.

English Language Learners

Asian languages rank among the top 10 languages spoken by English Language Learner students across transitional kindergarten to 12th grade in California. These include Mandarin, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Punjabi, and Philippine languages.

Public Opinion Data

Views on Education Issues

  • Over 3 in 4 Asian American voters in California (77%) ranked education as extremely or very important to them personally in deciding how to vote in the 2024 election. Young Asian American voters ages 18-34 in California ranked education slightly higher at 81%. (2024 California Asian American Voter Insights)

Policy Background

Key Laws

  • California’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF)– LCFF allocates state funds to school districts dependent on the characteristics of students in those schools. The formula provides additional funds to districts where students are more in need.
  • AB-705 Seymour-Campbell Student Success Act of 2012– AB-705 requires a community college district or college to “maximize the probability that the student will enter and complete transfer-level coursework in English and mathematics within a one-year timeframe”, and requires colleges to use high school transcript data in the placement of students into English and mathematics courses. The goal is to allow more students to enroll directly into college-level courses.
  • Student Transfer Achievement Reform Act of 2021: Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee– This law aims to streamline the transfer process for community college students to the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) systems. It requires that both UC and CSU create a common general education pathway, making it easier for students to meet transfer requirements. The law seeks to reduce confusion by standardizing the requirements and improving the transfer process for students pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, it mandates a system that helps students understand and navigate the transfer process efficiently. AB 928 aims to improve access to higher education and reduce barriers for students moving from community colleges to four-year institutions.

State Agencies

  • The California Department of Education (CDE)– CDE oversees the state’s public school system, and is responsible for the education of more than seven million children and young adults in more than 9,000 schools. The CDE and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction are responsible for enforcing education law and regulations; and for improving public elementary school programs, secondary school programs, adult education, some preschool programs, and child care programs. The CDE distributes state and federal funds to support schools and districts and also institutes statewide testing programs.
  • There is no single authority for public higher education in California. The University of California, the California State University system, and the Community College system are each governed by entities that are autonomous from the state, with significant authority to set governance and curricular standards that are independent of political influence. Members of the UC Board of Regents, the CSU Board of Trustees, and the California Community Colleges Board of Governors are each appointed by the Governor and serve discrete terms.

Other Statewide Organizations

Additional References

Other Resources

Sources:

Suggested citation: Karthick Ramakrishnan, Connie Tan, Akil Vohra, Clarielisa Ocampo, Jamie Noh, and Nadia Almasalkhi. “By the Numbers: Education in California. AAPI Data Guide on Timely Policy Issues.” Berkeley, CA: AAPI Data, 2025.

  • AAPI Data’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. (2023). American Community Survey (ACS), 2022 Five-Year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) via iPUMS USA. https://usa.ipums.org/usa/