Veterans Statistics Pat O’Rourke Director of Veteran University California State University, Long Beach April 13 th, 2009

Agenda State numbers Regional Campus

State Data  California leads the nation in the number of veterans in one state:  CA has 2.2 million (9.2%) out of the almost 24 million veterans nationally  11% of our active duty forces are Californians  That’s 170,000 of 1.45 million active service members  12% of active duty forces are stationed in California  175,000 of 1.45 million  20,000 active Air Force and Army National Guard

Long Beach Area Data  Los Angeles County = 361,618 (2008)  Orange County = 153,395 (2008)  Long Beach  Congressional district 37 = 26,863  Congressional district 46 = 46,210  Over 8,000 registered with the Long Beach VA Healthcare System

On-Campus Data  426 self-identified veterans on campus  New student veterans for the fall of 2008:  162 veterans  >80 dependents  31 veterans were surveyed  Average age is 26  94% live off campus; 39% live with parents;  48% served in Iraq; 26% in Afghanistan  55% reported using VA benefits  20% work fulltime, 40% work part-time

Veterans and Public Education 1  Projected gap in General Funds* at public university systems  Reduce enrollment for freshman, transfers, and class availability  Zero resources for specialized programs veterans need 1 Sources: US Department of Veteran Affairs, 2007; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2009.

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