Communications of the ACM
Report: California Colleges Produce Low Number of STEM Graduates
A new report says California's businesses need far more science, technology, engineering, and math graduates than the state's colleges and universities produce.
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California has far fewer students graduating with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) degrees from public colleges and universities than the state's businesses need, according to a new Campaign for College Opportunity report.
The report says California has more entry-level STEM jobs than any other state, but it ranks near the bottom of the U.S. in graduating STEM majors to fill those jobs.
In addition, only 33% of California State University students who start in a STEM major graduate with a STEM degree within six years.
The report also found in the 2013-2014 academic year, only about 5% of degrees awarded by California Community Colleges were STEM degrees.
In addition, the report says although the California State University system is twice the size of the University of California system, it produces almost an equal number of bachelor's degrees in engineering and computer science.
California's lag in producing STEM graduates can be attributed to insufficient state funding and a shortage of STEM program offerings in public colleges and universities.
The report recommends creating a statewide plan for higher education, increasing enrollment capacity, boosting funding, prioritizing the development of pathways for community college students in STEM majors, and closing equity gaps for minority students.
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