California Expanded Community College Degree Programs
New legislation allows California community colleges to add more bachelor's degrees starting in 2028.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Higher Education
Live Poll
Should community colleges have limits on new degrees based on their past graduation and transfer rates?
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 960 and Assembly Bill 2694, authorizing California community colleges to launch additional bachelor's degree programs. These new academic offerings are set to begin on January 1, 2028.
Why it matters
The legislation introduces a tiered performance system designed to tie academic expansion to student graduation and transfer rates. This move aims to align community college offerings with regional workforce demands in sectors like healthcare and technology.
Colleges will be sorted into five performance tiers to determine their eligibility for the new program limits. Existing bachelor's degrees, such as the Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care at Skyline College, do not count toward these caps.
The players
Gavin Newsom
He is the current Governor of California who signed the legislation into law.
Skyline College
This is a community college located in San Mateo County that currently offers a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care.
The details
The bills allow colleges to duplicate university degrees if local universities have admitted less than 75% of local community college transfer students for three consecutive years. These programs are intended to address specific workforce needs in education, climate, and technology fields.
Timeline
2025: Baccalaureate Degree Program Expansion Workplan released.
January 1, 2028: New community college bachelor's degree program limits take effect.
Culture Shift
The passage of Senate Bill 960 and Assembly Bill 2694 represents a departure from traditional educational models that strictly separate community college and university roles. By increasing the presence of four-year degrees at community colleges, the state is prioritizing direct workforce readiness over the historical reliance on transfer pathways.
Students across California may soon have access to more localized and affordable bachelor's degree paths in high-demand fields like healthcare. The expansion provides an alternative for those living in regions where local university transfer acceptance rates have historically fallen below the 75% threshold.
The takeaway
This policy change signals a sustained effort to bridge the gap between vocational training and four-year degree requirements. Prospective students should monitor their local community college for updates regarding new degree offerings scheduled for 2028.
Further reading
Learn more about the state's academic goals at Higher Education.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Skyline View.
Live Poll
Should community colleges have limits on new degrees based on their past graduation and transfer rates?
