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  • California Mobility Index

New look. Bolder voice. Unshaken commitment.

New Website Coming Soon

California Mobility Index

See How CA Four-Year Colleges and Universities Rank by Economic Mobility

NEW REPORT: State of Higher Education in California

Download the Report

REPORT: “California College Programs That Pay”

See Which CA Majors and Credentials Deliver a Return on Investment

Golden Opportunities Report

Learn More About ROI in CA Higher Ed for Low- and Moderate-Income Learners

Latest Insights & News

California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund

January 17, 2025

Understanding the Path to Economic Mobility for California’s Learners

April 3, 2024


Enhancing Holistic Student Supports in California Community Colleges Through Technology and Storytelling

September 4, 2024


California State University – California Community College Transfer Partnerships

September 4, 2024


All News & Insights >

Our Work

Aligning Postsecondary Education for Economic Mobility

Advancing deeper understanding and a new narrative regarding the future of postsecondary education as a driver of economic mobility.

Our Values

We pursue our vision and mission — to increase postsecondary completion for California's students — grounded in a set of core values.

@collegefutures

At College Futures Foundation, we believe that reb At College Futures Foundation, we believe that rebuilding the California dream means ensuring more people—especially those who’ve long been underserved—can achieve meaningful economic mobility through postsecondary education. To meet our goal of 70% attainment for learners who are underserved, we must expand our view of who postsecondary education is for and how it works.

Today, a growing number of Californians pursuing education are over 25, balancing work, caregiving, and other responsibilities. Yet they often face systems designed for an outdated idea of the traditional student. At the same time, many 18–24-year-olds—especially those from low-income backgrounds—share similar challenges. By designing more flexible, personalized, and career-connected pathways for adult learners, we can create a better system for all students. Supporting working adults is not a departure from serving younger learners—it’s a way to improve outcomes across the board. 

We’re often asked if this focus on adult learners means we’re stepping away from California’s public colleges and universities. The answer is no. These institutions remain central to our mission—they are where most learners begin and where they should be able to thrive. But they must evolve.  At the same time, there are other institutions and models—some designed specifically with working learners in mind—that offer valuable lessons and approaches. Many public actors are committed to serving these learners, but they’re often constrained by legacy systems and unable to move quickly enough to meet growing demand. We need to create the conditions that allow for innovation and evolution across the field.

Meeting the needs of today’s students, whether 18 or 48, requires rethinking how, when, and where learning happens. Because when our systems reflect the realities of learners’ lives, we don’t just open doors—we help ensure California remains a place where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. 

Watch the discussion between our President & CEO, Eloy Ortiz Oakley, and Chief Program & Strategy Officer, Elizabeth González at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUr3d_d56Mg or via the link in our bio.
Lifting others is the mark of a great leader and o Lifting others is the mark of a great leader and our Entrepreneur-in Residence, Maria Anguiano, truly exemplifies this. Maria has dedicated her career to expanding access to education for all learners. She has been a global champion for innovative learning models that has expanded access for over a million learners across 140+ countries — one of her many distinctive accomplishments.

Great news! Maria was named the 2025 recipient for the Jerry I. Porras Leadership Award by the Stanford Graduate School of Business (Stanford GSB). The award celebrates a Stanford GSB alumna or alumnus who has significantly contributed to the Latino community while encouraging and inspiring leadership in business. 

Congratulations, Maria — and thank you for your commitment to ensuring people and economies can thrive. We are lucky to have you be a part of our journey to rebuild the California dream for everyone.
"Last month, College Futures Foundation hosted its "Last month, College Futures Foundation hosted its first convening of partners and leaders to introduce an initiative to reimagine postsecondary value for economic mobility. This was the first of many convenings in College Futures’ interconnected strategy to ensure postsecondary education in California leads to upward mobility. 

The day was a powerful convergence of perspectives—from researchers unpacking new measures of value, to institutional leaders reimagining campus culture, to policy and advocacy leaders reminding us what system-level urgency looks like. At its core, the Summit was about articulating where we go next, together. 

At College Futures, we’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: we’re not here to simply defend the value of higher education—we’re here to redefine its purpose. 

That’s why our Golden Opportunities Initiative is moving into its next phase of strategic grantmaking with clarity and ambition. This phase is about focusing the field, complicating the narrative on postsecondary value, and organizing for impact in a rapidly changing economy. We don’t have all the answers—but we know they won’t come from any one institution or sector alone. That’s why we are seeking partners ready to build, question, and co-create the next chapter of postsecondary value—together."

- Amanda DeLaRosa, Director of Program & Strategy at College Futures Foundation

Read Amanda's full reflections in the link in bio. 

#GoldenOpportunitiesSummit #CAHigherEd #PostsecondaryEducation #HigherEdEquity
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College Futures Foundation
1999 Harrison Street, Suite 1900, Oakland CA 94612

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