Audit Blasts UC For Its Focus On Out-Of-State Students

The California state auditor is sharply criticizing the University of California. An audit released Tuesday says the UC is putting out-of-state students ahead of in-state students.

The report says the UC system has lowered nonresident admission standards and nearly always gives out-of-state students their campus of choice – while increasingly denying the preferences of in-state students.

“The university has undermined its commitment to residents in an effort to increase their revenue by recruiting and enrolling nonresidents,” says Margarita Fernandez with the state auditor’s office.

The UC Office of the President strongly disputes the audit’s findings.

“The inferences and conclusions in the report really aren’t supported by data or sound analysis,” UC's Steve Montiel says.

The university says its enrollment policies “overwhelmingly favor” Californians and that it enrolls as many in-state students as state budget funding allows.

The report recommends the Legislature consider capping out-of-state student enrollment at UC. A bill that would do that fell short in an Assembly committee earlier this month but could be brought back for another vote.