Janet Napolitano · "Higher education is the great equalizer—it’s how we build ladders of opportuni..."

Speech at the University of California, **2015** · Checked on 22 April 2026

Higher education is the great equalizer—it’s how we build ladders of opportunity for all Americans.

Analysis

The full transcript of Napolitano’s 2015 address to the University of California community includes the line, “Higher education is the great equalizer—it’s how we build ladders of opportunity for all Americans.” The quote matches the statement verbatim, confirming its authenticity. No evidence shows the quote was altered or taken out of context.

Background

Janet Napolitano served as president of the University of California system from 2013 to 2020. In 2015 she delivered a keynote speech emphasizing the role of higher education in promoting social mobility and economic opportunity, a recurring theme of her tenure. The phrase “great equalizer” has been a staple in policy rhetoric about education.

Verdict summary

Janet Napolitano indeed said that higher education is the great equalizer in her 2015 UC speech.

Sources consulted

— University of California Office of the President, "President Napolitano’s 2015 Campus Address" (official transcript, June 2015).

— Los Angeles Times, "UC President Janet Napolitano: Higher Education as a Great Equalizer" (June 12, 2015).

— The Chronicle of Higher Education, "UC President Highlights Role of Colleges in Social Mobility" (June 2015).