What You Should Know About Graduating From College in California
When thinking about the income potential and the employability of a particular academic field, it is important to pay attention to the current job opportunities and industry trends in your state. In a recent report from October 2020, the top five industries that were notable for marked changes in growth in the state of California were leisure and hospitality, goods-producing services, professional and business services, and retail trade.
For college graduates with a degree, the five fastest growing jobs in California are software developers, operations research analysts, actuaries, information security analysts, and market research analysts and marketing specialists.
Some of the biggest employers in California are the Los Angeles International Airport-Lax, UCLA Community Based Learning, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts US, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and eBay Inc., among others.
What’s Next?
While college can get very expensive, there are financial aid programs available to offset some, most, or even all of the costs. Listed below are federal and state resources to help you find financial aid, such as grants and scholarships, for college students in California.
- The California Student Aid Commission. This site helps with Chafee, CADAA, or FAFSA applications to help college become more affordable for California students.
- Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The U.S. Department of Education provides over $120 billion annually in federal financial aid for students. Federal Student Aid can be received in the form of loans, work-study opportunities, grants, and scholarships. For more information about FAFSA eligibility, go to FAFSA4caster, or go to the online FAFSA form to apply.
- CareerOneStop. Sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CareerOneStop contains financial aid information for each state that includes the availability of grants and scholarships.