California Community Colleges Can Now Offer More Bachelor’s Degrees — at a Fraction of University Tuition
A four-year degree without traditional four-year university tuition?
That option is about to become available to more California students.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed two new laws that significantly expand the ability of California’s community colleges to offer bachelor’s degree programs, potentially creating more affordable pathways to four-year degrees in career fields where California needs workers. CalMatters
For Los Angeles families trying to figure out how to pay for college—and adults considering going back to school—the change is worth knowing about.
What Changed?
California community colleges already offer a limited number of bachelor’s degrees. Currently, 49 colleges offer or are preparing to offer 66 bachelor’s degree programs statewide. CalMatters
Two newly signed laws—SB 960 and AB 2694—create a much larger pathway for those programs to expand beginning in 2028. Governor of California
Under the new system, community college districts will be eligible to add between two and 12 bachelor’s degree programs, depending in part on measures such as student completion and transfer rates. Districts must also demonstrate a regional workforce need for a proposed degree. CalMatters
There’s another major change: California is eliminating its blanket prohibition against community colleges offering bachelor’s degrees that overlap with programs available at CSU or UC campuses. The new rules instead focus on factors including workforce demand and whether existing university programs can meet student demand. Los Angeles Times
Why This Could Matter for Black LA
College affordability remains one of the biggest barriers between students and four-year degrees.
California’s community college bachelor’s program was specifically designed to provide more affordable bachelor’s-degree pathways while preparing students for employment in high-demand fields. The state also identifies closing equity gaps, improving wages and increasing economic mobility as goals of the program. California Community Colleges
And some of these opportunities already exist right here in Los Angeles County.
For example, Los Angeles Valley College offers a bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy, while West Los Angeles College offers a bachelor’s program in aviation maintenance technology. Nearby Cerritos College has also been approved for a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene. California Community Colleges
That makes this much more than a future education policy story.
It’s another potential pathway for students who want a bachelor’s degree but don’t necessarily want—or can’t afford—the traditional university route.
But About That “$10,000 Bachelor’s Degree” Claim…
This is where some of the social-media posts about the new law need context.
California Community College enrollment fees are generally $46 per unit for California residents, making the tuition component substantially less expensive than many four-year universities.
But saying everyone can get a bachelor’s degree for “$10,000 total” can be misleading.
Students still need to consider books, supplies, transportation, housing and other expenses, and individual bachelor’s programs can have additional costs. Financial aid can reduce costs significantly for qualifying students.
So the takeaway shouldn’t be “California just created $10,000 bachelor’s degrees.”
The more accurate—and still impressive—takeaway is:
California is dramatically expanding access to bachelor’s degrees through its lower-cost community college system.
There’s Some Controversy, Too
The expansion isn’t without criticism.
In an interesting twist, California’s community college system opposed the final version of the legislation after lawmakers added performance-based limits.
Critics argue that basing how many bachelor’s programs a district can add on graduation and transfer rates could disadvantage colleges serving larger numbers of low-income students—the same students who might benefit most from affordable four-year degree options. CalMatters
That debate will be worth watching as the new system rolls out.
BlackNLA Take
For Black families in Los Angeles, this is a development worth paying attention to.
The traditional path—graduate high school, attend a four-year university and take on whatever costs come with it—isn’t the only route to a bachelor’s degree anymore.
Community college can increasingly be the destination, not simply the first two years before transferring somewhere else.
And as LA-area colleges announce which new bachelor’s programs they plan to offer, BlackNLA will be watching closely—especially programs connected to careers with strong employment and earning potential.
