As Calbright’s official seven-year “start-up period” nears its conclusion, we have many extraordinary successes to celebrate. Calbright has not only flourished, it has met or exceeded every benchmark and milestone that the California Legislature set out for us in our founding legislation.
The work we have done to build a modern, online, competency-based college designed to provide flexible, self-paced education and job skills training for adult learners is unprecedented. Once again, California is showing the nation what successful innovation that is human-centered looks like.
A Mission To Reimagine College For Adults
In 2018, the state of California created Calbright College and gave it a seven-year mission: To reimagine higher education to serve the needs of the over six million adults aged 25-54 who are economically “stranded” and need accessible, relevant education and job skills training.
Calbright would be created for the millions of hard working, smart, skilled Californians eager to learn, grow, and thrive in the state’s evolving economy and workforce. The College would fit their budgets, work around their schedules, and be accessible wherever they lived in California. It would be job focused, helping them access 21st century prosperity, supporting them in their careers, and improving their lives.
Launching Calbright was a bold experiment, and something that had never been done before. Not only has it succeeded, Calbright is sharing what we’ve learned. Through example, research, and the sharing of expertise, Calbright is having an impact on online higher education and workforce development for adults in California and nationwide.
Milestones Met
The recent publication of Calbright’s 2025 Milestone Report, shows just how much the College has accomplished. The many requirements the college met included:
- Enrolling students into college program pathways – Calbright started from scratch in building a student body in 2018 to almost 8,000 actively enrolled students in July 2025, and has awarded almost 1,600 certificates of completion.
- Developing nine programs that provide job market value for students – Calbright students are better prepared for in-demand jobs ranging from areas such as Data Analysis to IT Support to Human Resources Learning and Development.
- Receiving accreditation from a U.S. Department of Education recognized accreditor – Calbright was fully accredited 1.5 years ahead of schedule with the Distance Accrediting Commission, and is already actively renewing our accreditation.
- Incorporating student feedback to improve the college’s instruction, technology, and student support services – Calbright’s 2024 Annual Student Experience Survey found that 78% of students reported that the College has supported them in making progress toward their educational and career goals, and students are involved in significant research and iteration efforts
Calbright has met or exceeded every standard set for it by the California Legislature, often ahead of schedule. Though there were difficult challenges in building something new, the mission has been an unqualified success.
Designing College For Everyone
Alongside the importance of specific benchmarks met is the big picture of what Calbright has proven can be done. Calbright has shown that it is possible to create an effective online college that is accessible to everyone.
Calbright is accessible to parents – A fifth of Calbright students are parents or caregivers, compared to just 10% across the California Community College system. They come here because Calbright is flexible with the demands of parents and caregivers’ schedules, and works for their lives.
Calbright is accessible to people regardless of economic situations – The College is free for all Californians. A full fifth of Calbright students, 21%, have experienced recent job loss or reduction in hours/wages. Others have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Whatever a student’s financial circumstances, they can afford to go here, and classes will fit their schedules.
Calbright is accessible to people of all ages – Over 92% of students are over 25 while the median age is late 30s.
Calbright is accessible to everyone no matter their zip code – Students come from 57 out of the 58 California counties
Without using any preferences in its admissions, Calbright attracts a far more diverse student body than most colleges – The college is almost evenly split between men and women, over 70% of students identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color, and almost 50% of students have no prior college degree. Calbright works for people of all socio-economic backgrounds.
This is the way college is supposed to work: Open and accessible to everyone, regardless of who they are, previous college experience, or how much money they have. And students overwhelmingly say the model Calbright has built supports them in their goals.
It’s what Calbright accomplished in seven years, becoming a national leader in adult higher education innovation. California can be proud to be home to Calbright College.
