Exploring the Benefits: Is It Time to Merge California’s College Systems into One Unified University?

California is considering a bold change in higher education. A recent proposal suggests merging the University of California, California State University, and community colleges into one large university. This idea comes from a report by California Competes, a nonprofit focused on higher education.

Su Jin Jez, the report’s author, believes this merger could solve many problems, like transferring between universities. She wants to spark discussion on how to improve student access and success in college. “This proposal is intentionally provocative,” Jez said. She admits the idea may face strong resistance from universities, faculty, unions, and others.

Many experts see the proposal as complicated. Eloy Ortiz Oakley, former chancellor of the community college system, acknowledges the need for better coordination but disagrees with a single university approach. “There’s no way you could form one comprehensive governance entity,” he said.

History shows that California’s original Master Plan for Higher Education, established in 1960, is outdated. Back then, most college students were white, but now, a majority are Latino, and women outnumber men in universities. The master plan aimed to separate roles for each system: UC focused on research, CSU on undergraduates, and community colleges on open access. Today, these lines are blurred.

This proposed mega-university would create regional campuses like California University, Los Angeles. Each campus would offer a range of programs from certificates to doctorates, making college accessible to everyone, without strict admission requirements.

Despite the clear benefits of merging systems, political challenges loom. A recent audit highlighted that only about 20% of students intending to transfer from community colleges to UC or CSU actually did so within four years. Experts agree better coordination between institutions is crucial for improving transfer rates and student success.

Hans Johnson, a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, supports the idea of a single system but recognizes it might be unrealistic. “You could argue that having one big system is a valid point,” he noted, but political feasibility is uncertain. His research indicates that while there’ve been improvements in student eligibility and graduation rates, significant work remains.

The report from California Competes emphasizes the urgent need for a coordinating body to help manage data and student transfers effectively. Recent budget proposals from Governor Gavin Newsom suggest funding for such coordination, but those specifics seem to be fading.

Jez concluded, “Our higher ed system is the best in the world. We need to ask how we stay on the vanguard.” The need for a fresh approach is clear, but how to achieve it remains a complex debate.

For more on this topic, you can read the California Competes report [here](https://californiacompetes.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Master-Plan-Paper-Final.pdf).

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