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HomeEducation CodeDiv. 5Pt. 40Ch. 2Art. 1§ 66010 Public Higher Education Systems

§ 66010 Public Higher Education Systems

Education Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 66010 Public Higher Education Systems

Key Takeaways

  • •Public colleges in California include community colleges, California State University, and University of California.
  • •Private colleges are called 'independent institutions'—they are nonprofit, give degrees, and are approved by the U.S. government.
  • •This law does not control, fund, or interfere with private schools, including religious ones.

Example

A private college in California wants to offer a new degree program.

The law says the state won’t tell the private college what to do or give it money unless it’s already required by other laws. The college just needs to follow its own rules and keep its approval from the U.S. Department of Education.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 66010 Public Higher Education Systems

(a) Public higher education consists of (1) the California Community Colleges, (2) the California State University, and each campus, branch, and function thereof, and (3) each campus, branch, and function of the University of California. (b) As used in this part, “independent institutions of higher education” are those nonpublic higher education institutions that grant undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, or both, and that are formed as nonprofit corporations in this state and are accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. (c) No provision of this part is intended to regulate, subsidize, or intrude upon private education, including, but not limited to, independent educational institutions and religious schools, nor to vary existing state law or state constitutional provisions relating to private education. (Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 758, Sec. 28. Effective January 1, 1996.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

educationuniversityschoolcorporationfinecalifornia community collegesfunctionunited states department

Related Statutes

  • § 51206.4 Media Literacy Resources
  • § 56101 Special Education Waiver Requests
  • § 59105 Blind School Background Checks
  • § 66010.95 Postsecondary Education Segments
  • § 66011 Higher Education Admission Policy

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Education Code. Section 66010.
View Official Source