The University of California system reported record enrollment—surpassing 301,000 students—as it heads into a budget debate in Sacramento, the system said. The rise comes amid intensified federal scrutiny and political pressure on public higher education, placing campus leaders between growing demand and tighter policy constraints. For system finance officers and campus administrators, higher enrollment strengthens tuition and state‑budget leverage but also increases operational pressure as institutions seek to balance access, instructional capacity and compliance with federal directives.