The state of California is seeing a decline in students who go to college directly after high school. Students there are not necessarily embracing a college going culture.

”There is no substitute for an educated populace in California’s drive for economic and social health,” said the report by the Institute for Higher Education Leadership & Policy, at CSU-Sacramento

The portion of California students going to college immediately after high school dropped from 61 to 52 percent over the last 10 years, said the ”State of Decline” study.

California ranks 40th among states in the rate of high school graduates going directly to college.

Nancy Shulock, director of the think tank that compiled the report, acknowledges that many students in California do go to college later in life. In fact, the state ranks at the top nationally in overall college participation because older students take classes part-time.

The numbers of students opting year college programs and online programs needs to be taken in to consideration. Not all students are interested in traditional college degree programs. There are many options for students today to get specialized training with associate degree programs and online degree programs.