California's public colleges are facing a long, tough budget haul, education experts say, and the end result will only hurt the state's students.

The state's $38 billion deficit is passing along deep cuts to the state's three systems of public higher education, forcing tuition hikes and causing universities to take the rare step of restricting enrollments, closing the doors on thousands of would-be students even as enrollments are booming.

California's public college systems - California Community Colleges, California State University and University of California - have been in this situation before, most recently 10 years ago when the state faced a deficit of about $10 billion.

But educators say this time is different. Unlike previous recessions in the 1980s and '90s, this economic downturn doesn't look like it's going to improve anytime soon, returning much-needed dollars to the universities' and colleges' depleted coffers.

Patrick Callan, a national expert on higher education issues, said the long-term effects of the recession could signal a "rolling back of educational opportunity" for California's young people.

"This is a hugely serious issue," said Callan, who is president of the San Jose-based National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. "Every generation since the GI Bill (was signed in 1944) has educated the generation that came after them and provided more and better education than they got. For the first time, we may not do that."

On Wednesday, California State University and University of California - which together serve about 600,000 students - are expected to approve tuition increases of up to 30 percent.

The hike would raise annual undergraduate tuition in CSU to $2,046 - a $474 increase. Graduate fees would increase $522 to $2,256.

UC's Board of Regents will be asked to approve a 25 percent increase, but also give system President Richard Atkinson the authority to raise fees to 30 percent if cuts from the state increase. A 25 percent increase would raise undergraduate tuition by $960, bringing the average annual tuition to $5,247, including miscellaneous campus fees. A 30 percent increase would raise tuition $1,150, bringing average annual undergraduate fees to $5,437.

The increase would also raise tuition for UC graduate students and fees at professional schools.

The increases would come on top of hikes both systems implemented in January.

One-third of the money raised from the increases will be used to bolster financial aid, so the state's neediest students won't be priced out of college.

California's community colleges are also expected to raise fees, although any increase in that system is approved by the state Legislature rather than the system's governing board. Gov. Gray Davis has suggested raising fees from $11 per class unit to $18. Most community college classes are three or four units, so the increase would take prices from about $33 per class to $54.

Officials are quick to point out, however, that even with the increase, California's colleges and universities are still among the cheapest in the nation. CSU fees would still be lower than 15 comparable institutions nationwide, and UC fees would be more than $1,200 below those charged at public universities in Michigan, Illinois, New York and Virginia.

The fee increases are one way universities are recouping some of the money they will lose once the Legislature finalizes a state budget. CSU is expecting at least a $330.2 million cut to the $2.6 billion it gets from the state; UC is gearing up for an expected $440.5 million cut - $360 million in cuts proposed by Gov. Gray Davis and at least $80.5 million more in Assembly and Senate versions of the budget.

But tuition hikes are just the beginning. Colleges and universities will also lay off staff, cut course offerings and reduce student services.

Officials with California's community colleges - bracing for an expected $285 million cut from the state - estimate that thousands of students will be kept out of community colleges next year because of a combination of reduced offerings and higher fees.

Closing the doors on students is anathema to California's public colleges and universities, which have always held at their core the mission of providing an affordable education to the state's students.

Yet closing the doors is exactly what CSU and UC will consider this week when their governing boards also discuss policies that would restrict enrollment for thousands of college-bound students.

CSU is looking at ways it can trim enrollment by 2 percent - about 8,000 students - beginning in the spring. Options include not accepting new student applications.

UC regents will also be asked to consider restricting enrollment next school year. Atkinson said the system could save $45 million if it enrolls 5,000 fewer freshmen and transfer students in 2004-05.

"As far as I can remember, we've never had a time when we, as a matter of policy, restricted enrollments for qualified students," said UC's vice president for budget Larry Hershman, who has been with the system for 35 years. "That would be a huge change in policy, and one I know (the board of) regents will struggle with."

Callan said universities are struggling with these issues at a crucial time in the state.

A huge crush of students is moving through high schools and pushing at the doors of colleges and universities.

At the same time, a college diploma is more important than ever to those entering the job market and hoping to nab jobs that provide a livable wage.

"If people can't go to college and unemployment is running as high as it is in California, what exactly are their options?" Callan said.

Callan said public colleges and universities have always been at the whim of the state's boom-bust economy. In boom times, programs are well-funded and tuitions decrease. But in bad times, funding goes down, tuitions go back up and students are locked out.