You Can Get a Bachelor's at Some Community Colleges

College tuition is at an all-time high, and many people simply can't afford it. Meanwhile, the country faces a growing shortage in the number of college-educated workers it has to remain competitive in the knowledge-based economy. On top of this, companies are having a harder time hiring because college grads don't have much industry-specific knowledge.

What if there were a way to increase access to a bachelor's education in high-demand fields?

Community college bachelor's programs have been gaining a lot of traction lately. Right now, 18* states offer some form of community college bachelor's programs, a recent one being California.

Community colleges that want to offer a 4-year degree have to apply to their state's higher education board for approval, and have to show that four basic requirements are met:

1. There is a true workforce shortage of this major that is not being met by the nearby universities - we're not talking about liberal arts and sciences majors here, think: nursing, IT, fire science...majors that have a pretty clear major-to-occupation link.
2. The community college has the capacity to offer such a program. (If you don't already have a great 2-year nursing program with great graduation rates that's up to all the standards, then don't even think about seeking approval for a 4-year program.)
3. The proposed major is complex enough that it cannot be covered in a 60-unit associate degree program.
4. Finally, the community college has to show that they are best positioned to offer these programs, possibly due to their experience with applied education, and/or their relationships with local employers.

Texas is a large state, second only to California. Former Governor Rick Perry (R-TX) put out a challenge to higher-ed institutions in his state for a "$10,000 bachelor's degree." The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board took it very seriously, and put out an ask for a feasibility study of community college bachelor's programs as a way to meet this challenge.

 Through this study , Texas identified a few majors that fit the four requirements, above: Computer Information Technology (especially Health IT), Fire Sciences Management, and Precision Production Technology and Management. The study also found a proposed major that did not fit the four requirements: nursing.

The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the United States, serving more than two million students per year with over 100 college campuses.

On September 28, 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown signed  Senate Bill 850 , introduced by Senator Marty Block in 2014, authorizing the Board of Governors of California's Community Colleges, in consultation with representatives of the California State University and University of California, to establish a statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program at no more than 15 California Colleges.

California selected proposed programs from 34 community colleges who submitted applications. The state of California  approved 15 programs  that started in the 2016-2017 academic school year:

These are complex majors that cannot be compressed into a 60-unit 2-year program, there's a true workforce shortage, they have a clear major-to-job link, and these programs do not duplicate existing programs at the state's public universities.

See an interview with Former State Senator Marty Block:

Say you're a student who wants to go to Mira Costa's biomanufactuing program. Once you have sophomore standing at any community college, you apply for this program. Yes, you have to meet admissions requirements, have completed prerequisites, and be selected.

Similar to programs in other states, these California Community Colleges have one price per unit for the lower-division/associate coursework, and a higher price per unit for the upper-division/bachelors coursework.

The entire degree costs students approximately $10,560** - a fraction of the cost of a bachelor's degree from the California State University and University of California Systems, not to mention private universities. Governor Perry would be proud!

Pros:

• These programs provide increased access to a baccalaureate education, particularly for non-traditional students who need convenience and flexibility.
• Students in these programs will graduate more job-ready. While these programs are certainly less about broad, well-rounded education than programs offered in the University of California System (sometimes criticized as "pre-professional school" or "pre-grad school" degrees), they are 4-year degrees that provide students with enough subject-matter knowledge, enough of an ability to anticipate and adapt to changes in the field, and enough leadership skills for them to excel in their field of study. If it were just four years of lower-division coursework, they would not be accredited.
• Cost alone!

Cons:

• Potential for "mission creep" - Will resources at the community colleges be put into these programs at the expense of the associate- and credential-seeking students they are supposed to serve?
• Potential for counterproductive competition between the community colleges and the universities for everything from state funding to faculty, to even students.
• Worry that these degrees will be perceived as lower quality by employers and graduate schools. (In the case of Texas,  the independent study  actually did not find this to be the case.) Every program will need time to establish its reputation. Californians had a similar concern when UC Merced accepted its first cohort in 2005.

"Nearly 140 students throughout the state [made history last] graduation season as the first in the California Community Colleges to earn a bachelor's degree through the groundbreaking Baccalaureate Pilot Program." -  Press Release  from California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (CCCCO)

While brand new, these programs are already seeing promising results, according to  a statement  from the CCCCO:

“The academic rigor and success of the Foothill College dental hygiene program made it an ideal candidate for the development of a bachelor’s degree under the pilot program,” said program director Phyllis Spragge, who reported a 100 percent pass rate for the Dental Hygiene National Board Exam from Foothill College.

“The first week we started the baccalaureate program, Sharp Healthcare called me to collaborate in creating an employment pipeline straight from our college,” said Associate Professor Connie Renda, director of the health information management program at San Diego Mesa College.

The pilot program is on track to continue until the 2022-2023 academic school year, at this point it will be evaluated and possibly renewed. 2018 was the first graduating class from the pilot program, so there's not enough time and data yet to thoroughly evaluate these programs. The good news is that California has many other states it can learn from.

Ohio, a state starting a similar pilot program in fall 2019, is also in good company.

*According to a  web article from Pew Research Center , the 18 states (other than Ohio) that offer CC Bach. programs are: CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, HI, IN, MI, ND, NM, NV, OK, TX, UT, WA, WI, WV, VT.

**According to  a web article from the San Diego Community College District .