LOS ANGELES (AP) - With state budget cuts forcing California's public universities to shrink their course offerings, earning a bachelor's degree in four years is becoming even more difficult for many students.
As the fall semester gets under way, students at the University of California, the California State University and California Community Colleges are feeling the pinch of $2.5 billion in cuts to the state's public higher education budget over the past three years.
They're taking on more jobs and loans to pay higher tuition bills and signing up for unnecessary electives to retain financial aid because courses that count toward degree requirements are full.
Meanwhile, many high school seniors and community college graduates are frozen out altogether because admissions have been limited.
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