CA AB656

Authorizes California State University (CSU) to award professional or applied doctoral degrees statewide that do not duplicate University of California (UC) doctoral degrees, as an exception to the Master Plan for Higher Education.

Requires CSU campuses to submit proposed doctoral programs to the Chancellor's office for review and Trustees approval, including documentation of non-duplication with UC programs, enrollment projections, administrative plans, and workforce data.

Limits CSU doctoral degree expansion to maximum 10 new doctoral disciplines per academic year and restricts each campus to offering no more than 25 percent of its total programs as professional or applied doctoral degrees.

Requires CSU to fund doctoral programs from existing budgets without reducing undergraduate enrollment or program quality, and mandates doctoral program fees be comparable to but not exceed UC doctoral program fees.

Mandates Legislative Analyst's Office conduct statewide evaluation of CSU doctoral programs and submit report to Legislature and Governor by December 31, 2028, assessing enrollment, completion, duplication issues, and impact on accessibility, quality, and affordability of higher education.