The minimum age for students attending community colleges in California is usually 18, although some schools will allow younger high school students to attend classes. Schools in the state university system generally have no minimum age requirement. High school students may be admitted as long as they pass state high school proficiency exams.
High school students below the age of 18 who hope to take college classes usually need the consent of the high school principal and the college president. Students also must usually have a grade-point average that meets or exceeds the college's requirements for admission.
California colleges welcome older men and women who are returning to school. Older students can take any class as long as they have passed the prerequisites, and may earn any type of degree as long as they meet the degree requirements. There are no restrictions on older students enrolling for either graduate or undergraduate courses.
The age of California college students mirrors the average age of students in other parts of the country. Most students attending California colleges are in their late teens or early to mid-20s. At California State University, Sacramento, for example, the average student age was 24 in 2007. About 25 percent of students were at least 25 years old.