A new study by the Public Policy Institute of California indicates grave concern about the future of higher education. According to a telephone survey, 70% of those sampled fear qualified applicants are having trouble getting through college.

One student of the school, Sandra Laveaga, is on the verge of graduating, but has friends working in retail and restaurants just to get by. Laveaga says stronger competition in the past ten years is also making it tougher for students to make it into a college.

Another student, Nick Ortiz from New York, is also working his way through college and shares the concerns of the public in the poll. He says California's financial crisis and high gas prices are contributing to the problem of college affordability.

According to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the state's fiscal shortfall remains above $10 billion and could wind up peaking at $17 billion. The governor's prediction has IVC's Media and Community Relations Director, Bill Gay, concerned about more cuts. He says the school will pound home the message to the legislature about the importance of education first. Gay adds that the school will also do everything in its power to keep some of the core programs that have given students a building block to success.