Determining Equitable Funding Levels for California Community Colleges: A Cost Function Approach

• In Event: Costing Education: Evidence-Based Approaches to Equity and Adequacy in School Finance

Abstract

This study applies frameworks from K-12 finance literature to examine financial equity and adequacy in California’s community college system. We conduct a series of analyses to explore the relationships between student needs, institutional resources, and educational outcomes. Using a cost modeling approach, we estimate that raising 200%-time graduation rates by 10 percentage points would require approximately $5,200 in additional funding per full-time equivalent student. Costs are also greater for institutions that serve high-need student populations. These results provide empirical support for better aligning community college funding models with student needs and institutional contexts. Our study contributes to the limited research on community college costs and offers policymakers evidence-based insights for developing more equitable funding policies in post-secondary education.

Authors

• Jesse D. Levin, American Institutes for Research

• Bruce D. Baker, University of Miami

• Christopher Brooks, American Institutes for Research