This publication is part of a joint project of the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation and the Institute for Women's Policy Research to analyze women's educational status in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The report includes detailed information on the educational status of women and the economic gains from education in California. This report focuses on educational attainment and earnings among women in California. which ranked 15th in the nation in 2000 for the proportion of its female population with a four-year college degree or more (Table 1). Women in California have lower levels of education than do men in the state. In 2000, 28.7 percent of men and 24.8 percent of women had completed four or more years of college (Appendix II). In addition, women at every education level in California earn less than similarly educated men earn. While women in California with at least a four-year college degree in 2000 had the fourth highest median annual earnings in the country, compared to similarly educated women, the state ranked ninth for the earnings ratio between women and men at that level of education. Both educational attainment and earnings vary by women's race and ethnicity, urban or rural status, and family income.