$4.4 TRILLION
FOR CALIFORNIA’S ECONOMY IS WITHIN REACH
California stands at a defining moment for its economic future.
Across the state, two Californias exist side by side. We have a thriving economy, yet millions of Californians are struggling to afford basic necessities. Increasingly, the dividing line between these realities is postsecondary education—who has access to it, who completes it, and whether it leads to real economic mobility.
Now we also understand what that divide is costing us.
New research from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, in partnership with College Futures Foundation, finds that California could generate $4.4 trillion in economic gains if we reach 70% postsecondary attainment across all demographic groups.
This is more than a number—it’s a measure of economic potential and a stark reminder that our systems are not working as they should, for all Californians.
Increasing attainment equitably will require more than expanding access. It will require ensuring that postsecondary education leads to real economic mobility, and that it is designed for the realities of today’s working learners.
In response to the report’s release, College Futures Foundation is launching Our Golden Ticket, a public engagement campaign to spark a new conversation about how postsecondary attainment connects to economic mobility across California, and to catalyze the transformation needed to get there. This campaign is grounded in a shared understanding: Reaching this level of opportunity will require all of us to think and do things in the most creative and expansive way possible.
This is California’s moment.
New Research Reveals the Opportunity
A major new economic research report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) shows that closing postsecondary attainment gaps is one of California’s most powerful strategies for achieving shared prosperity.
A $198 billion public investment in ensuring 70% of people in every California demographic group earn a credential after high school by 2035 is estimated to deliver a significant, near-term, and lasting return.
Key Areas for Impact
The research shows that some California communities are on track for 70% attainment—but many more are not. In fact, some of those that would have the greatest impact on our economy face the greatest barriers to attainment today.
Understand the opportunity and
join the journey to shared prosperity.
The Faces Behind the Numbers
While the numbers help us understand what is at stake, they are only part of the story. Behind them are the lived experiences of learners and communities across California. Millions of learners are navigating their lives while pursuing education – balancing work, family and the path to something better. This storytelling series explores how we meet them there: by designing for real lives, connecting postsecondary education to opportunity, and building the partnerships that make it possible.
When Education is Designed for Good Jobs and Real Lives, Opportunity for Everyone Expands
In California’s Inland Empire, a growing coalition of employers, educators, and community leaders is working to better align education with opportunity.
Unlock $4.4 Trillion for California’s Future
Our Golden Ticket to $4.4 trillion in economic gains is within reach. But it will not be claimed through the same structures that have limited opportunity for too many Californians, for too long.
To build a California where postsecondary education delivers real value for every learner, we must be willing to do things differently—reimagining what it takes to expand opportunity and ensure attainment leads to real economic mobility.
This is not a moment for small changes. It is a moment for transformation.
We will not accept a future where more learners and communities are left behind.
Will you join us in rebuilding the California Dream—for everyone?
Add your name to the ranks of leaders across California who commit to expanding opportunity and shared prosperity.
Inspire people in your networks to join the Golden Ticket conversation and collaboration.
