I am a big supporter of attending a community college and transferring to a university to earn a bachelor’s degree. Attending a local community college is the best academic and financial decision you will make. Read, Community College, Online Or In Person It’s Affordable.
A community college, also known as a junior college, is an affordable two-year school that can lead to an associate degree (AA or AS), professional certificates, and ready-to-work technical degrees. It is a great pathway for students to transfer to a four-year university while saving money.
I started my college academic career at 13 as a concurrent enrollment student. For high school students reading this, I highly encourage you to consider concurrent enrollment. I took college classes at my local community college while I was in high school. Community College was how I graduated high school at 16, received my AS Degree in Business Administration at 17, earned my BS in Business Entrepreneurship at 19, and then my MBA in Entrepreneurship and Global Business at 20. But I was a transfer student, I went to a four-year university to earn my bachelor’s degree. There were not many community colleges offering bachelor’s degrees when I was attending and certainly not my local community college. However, today, there are more and more bachelor’s degrees being offered at the community college level.
Two-Year Institutions, Four-Year Degrees
Today, 24 states across the US allow select community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees. Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
The program selections offered at community colleges are much smaller than the program options at universities, but don’t let that discourage you. Community college bachelor’s (BA and BS) programs are limited to workforce-ready professional degrees, which is advantageous for you as a new graduate. These programs are intended to get college graduates into important fields immediately after graduation. These bachelor’s degrees will be in specific fields such as nursing, business, information technology, and radiology.
The Cost of Four-Year Degrees At Community College
Community colleges are known for being affordable and having significantly lower costs of tuition and fees than universities. This is still true for earning your bachelor’s degree from community colleges. Some programs will require students to complete an associate degree before applying to a BS or BA program, but the transition to earning a four-year degree in the same area of study is quite easy.
The cost of tuition at some programs increases slightly from associate to bachelor’s programs but is overall still less than public universities. As community colleges expand their offerings to bachelor’s degrees, I recommend students take advantage of this option if it is in their field of study.
According to the American Association of Community Colleges, in 2019, more than 20,000 students earned their bachelor’s degrees from a community college. There’s a reason so many students are earning their bachelor’s degree from community colleges—it’s affordable and fast!
List Of Community Colleges That Offer Bachelor Degrees
The below list is by no means complete but shows how each state and community college can offer an array of different degrees. In California, 15 community colleges offer one bachelor’s degree program each. While in Washington, there are nearly 100 different community college bachelor’s programs. Be sure to check your state as it is expected that bachelor’s programs offered by community colleges will continue to grow.
The below list features degrees including Bachelor of Science (BS), Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS), Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Applied Arts (BAA), Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences (BAAS), and Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT). All of these different types of bachelor’s degrees can be earned at a community college.
Arizona
Maricopa Community Colleges: Has many campuses.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Data Analytics and Programming — Mesa
- BAS in Information Technology — Estrella Mountain and Phoenix
- BAS in Public Safety Administration — Phoenix and Rio Salado
- BS in Behavioral Sciences — South Mountain
- BAS in Nuclear Medicine Technology and Computed Tomography — GateWay
- BA in Early Childhood Education: Dual Language — Mesa
- BA in Elementary Education and Special Education — Glendale, Paradise Valley, and Rio Salado
California
Antelope Valley College: Has 2 campuses: 3041 W Ave K, Lancaster, CA 93536 and 2301 East Palmdale Blvd, Palmdale, CA 93550.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Airframe Manufacturing Technology Program (AFMT)
Bakersfield College: 1801 Panorama Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93305.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Industrial Automation
Cypress College: 9200 Valley View Street Cypress, CA 90630.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Mortuary Science
Feather River College: 570 Golden Eagle Ave, Quincy, CA 95971.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Equine and Ranch Management
Foothill College: 12345 El Monte Rd, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Dental Hygiene
MiraCosta Community College: 1 Barnard Dr, Oceanside, CA 92056.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Biotechnology
Modesto Junior College: Has 3 locations in Modesto, CA.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Respiratory Care
Rio Hondo College: 3600 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Automotive Technology
San Diego Mesa College: 7250 Mesa College Dr, San Diego, CA 92111.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Health Information Management
Santa Ana College: 1530 W 17th St, Santa Ana, CA 92706.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Occupational Studies
Santa Monica College: 1900 Pico Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Interaction Design
Shasta College: 11555 Old Oregon Trail, Redding, CA 96003 and locations in Burney, Weaverville, and Red Bluff, CA.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Health Information Management
Skyline College: 3300 College Dr, San Bruno, CA 94066.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Respiratory Care
Solano Community College: 4000 Suisun Valley Rd, Fairfield, CA 94534 and locations in Vacaville and Vallejo, CA.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Biomanufacturing
West Los Angeles College: 9000 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA 90230.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Dental Hygiene
Colorado
Arapahoe Community College: Has 2 campuses: 5900 S. Santa Fe Dr, Littleton, CO 80120 and 4500 Limelight Ave, Castle Rock, CO 80109.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Advanced Paramedic Practitioner
- BAS in Emergency Service Administration
- BS in Nursing (BSN)
Community College of Denver: 1111 W Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80204.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Dental Hygiene
Morgan Community College: Has 5 locations throughout Colorado.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Nursing (RN to BSN)
Pike’s Peak State College: Has 3 locations throughout Colorado.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Emergency Service Administration
Pueblo Community College: Has 5 locations throughout Colorado.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Advanced Paramedic Practitioner
- BAS in Secure Software Development
- BAS in Dental Hygiene
- BS in Nursing
- BAS Radiologic Technology
- BAS Computed Tomography
- BAS Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- BAS Respiratory Therapy
- BAS Secure Software Development
Florida
Broward College: 4205 Bonaventure Blvd, Weston, FL 33332
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS Supervision and Management
- BAS Information Technology
- BAS Technology Management
- BS in Teacher Education – Exceptional Student Education
- BS in Teacher Education – Middle Grades Science
- BS in Teacher Education – Secondary Biology
- BS in Teacher Education – Middle Grades Mathematics
- BS in Teacher Education – Secondary Mathematics
- BS in Nursing (RN to BSN)
Chipola College: 3094 Indian Cir, Marianna, FL 32446
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Teacher Education – Elementary Education K-6
- BS in Teacher Education – English Education
- BS in Teacher Education – Exceptional Student Education
- BS in Teacher Education – Middle School Math Education (grades 5- 9) and Mathematics Education (grades 6-12)
- BS in Teacher Education – Middle School Science Education (grades 5-9) and Biology Education (grades 6-12)
- BS in Teacher Education – English Education
- BS in Business Administration – Accounting
- BS in Business Administration – Engineering Management
- BS in Business Administration – Information Systems
- BS in Business Administration – Management
- BS in Nursing (RN to BSN)
Daytona State College: 1200 W International Speedway Blvd, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Supervision and Management
- BAS in Supervision and Management – Hospitality
- BS in Information Technology
- BS in Elementary Education
- BS in Exceptional Education
- BS in Secondary Biology Education
- BS in Secondary Chemistry Education
- BS in Secondary Earth/Space Science Education
- BS in Secondary Mathematics Education
- BS in Secondary Physics Education
- BS in Engineering Technology
- BS in Engineering Technology – Electrical Engineering Concentration
- BS in Nursing (BSN)
Seminole State College of Florida: 100 Weldon Blvd, Sanford, FL 32773
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Nursing (RN to BSN)
- BAS in Business Information Technology – Supply Chain Management
- BAS in Business Information Technology – Entrepreneurship
- BAS in Business Information Technology – Interdisciplinary
- BAS in Business Information Technology – Supply Chain Management
- BAS in Business Information Technology – European Business Experience
- BAS in Business Information Technology – Human Resources
- BAS in Business Information Technology – Social Media and E-Marketing
- BS in Construction
- BS in Engineering Technology
- BS in Health Sciences – Respiratory Therapy & Clinical Leadership
- BS in Health Sciences – Health Coaching & Human Performance
- BS in Health Sciences – Healthcare Management & Professional Services
- BS in Health Sciences – Simulation in Healthcare Education
- BS in Health Sciences – Clinical Science & Community Paramedic
- BAS in Interior Design
- BS in Information Technology – Cyber Security
- BS in Information Technology – Programming
Valencia Community College: Has several locations in the Orlando area, with locations throughout Orange and Osceola counties.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Business and Organizational Leadership
- BS in Cardiopulmonary Sciences
- BAS in Computing Technology and Software Development
- BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology
- BS in Nursing (BSN)
- BS in Radiologic and Imaging Sciences
Hillsborough Community College: 1206 N Park Rd, Plant City, FL 3356.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Nursing (BSN)
Tallahassee Community College: 444 Appleyard Drive Tallahassee, FL 32304
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Nursing (BSN)
Nevada
Great Basin College: 1500 College Pkwy, Elko, Nevada 89801.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BA in Early Childhood Education
- BA in English
- BA in Elementary Education
- BA in Secondary Education
- BA in Social Science
- BA in Natural Resources
- BAS in Land Surveying/Geomatics
- BAS in Digital Information Technology
- BAS in Human Services
- BAS in Instrumentation
- BAS in Management and Supervision
- BAS in Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- BS in Nursing (BSN)
- BS in Biological Sciences
- Bachelor in Social Work
Truckee Meadows Community College: 7000 Dandini Boulevard, Reno, NV 89512.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- Bachelor of Architecture
- BAS in Career and Technical Education Leadership
- BAS in Cyber-Physical Manufacturing
- BS in Dental Hygiene
- BAS in Emergency Management and Homeland Security
- BA in Graphic Arts and Media Technology (Conferred by Nevada State College)
- BAS in Logistics Operations Management
- BS in Nursing (BSN)
Texas
College Of The Mainland: 1200 Amburn Rd, Texas City, TX 77591
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Nursing (BSN)
Austin Community College: 5930 Middle Fiskville Rd. Austin, TX 78752.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Manufacturing Engineering Technology
- BS in Nursing (RN to BSN)
- BAS in Software Development
Lone Star College: 4141 Victory Dr, Houston, TX 77088.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Nursing (BSN)
- BAT in Cybersecurity
- BAS in Emergency Management
- BAS in Energy, Manufacturing and Trades Management
Tyler Junior College: 1400 E 5th St, Tyler, TX 75701.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Dental Hygiene
- BAT in Healthcare Technology and Medical Systems
South Texas College: 3201 Pecan Blvd, McAllen, TX 78501
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAT in Medical and Health Services Management
- BAS in Organizational Leadership
- BS in Nursing (RN to BSN)
- BAT in Computer and Information Technologies
- BAT in Technology Management
Odessa College: 201 W University Blvd, Odessa, TX 79764
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Entrepreneurship
- BAAS in Automation
- BAAS in Occupational Safety and Health Management
Utah
Salt Lake Community College partnered with Utah Universities: 4600 South Redwood Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84123.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Business Administration (awarded by Utah State University)
- BS in Biotechnology (awarded by Utah Valley University)
Washington
Bellevue College: 3000 Landerholm Cir SE, Bellevue, WA 98007.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Applied Accounting
- BAS in Business Management and Technology
- BS in Computer Science
- BAS in Cybersecurity
- BAS in Digital Marketing
- BAS in Health and Wellness
- BAS in Healthcare Informatics
- BAS in Healthcare Management and Leadership – Healthcare Management General
- BAS in Healthcare Management and Leadership – Radiation and Imaging Management
- BAS in Data Management and Analysis – Business Intelligence
- BAS in Data Management and Analysis – Data Analytics
- BAA in Interior Design
- BAS in Molecular Biosciences
- BS Nursing (RN to BSN)
- BAS in Radiation and Imaging Sciences – Diagnostic Medical Sonography
- BAS in Radiation and Imaging Sciences – Medical Dosimetry
- BAS in Radiation and Imaging Sciences – Nuclear Medicine
- BAS in Radiation and Imaging Sciences – Technology
- BAS in Software Development – Application Development
- BAS in Software Development – Artificial Intelligence
Clover Park Technical College: 4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW, Lakewood, WA 98499
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Cybersecurity
- BAS in Interior Design
- BAS in Mechatronics Engineering Technology and Automation
- BAS in Operations Management
Columbia Basin College: 2600 N. 20th Ave, Pasco, WA 99301.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Applied Management
- BAS in Cyber Security
- BAS in Dental Hygiene
- BAS in Health Physics
- BAS in Information Technology
- BS in Nursing (BSN)
- BAS in Project Management
- BAS in Teacher Education
Grays Harbor College: 1620 Edward P Smith Dr, Aberdeen, WA 98520
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Forest Resource Management
- BAS in Organizational Management
- BAS in Teacher Education – Elementary and Special Education
Green River College: 12401 SE 320th St, Auburn, WA 98092
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Aeronautical Science
- BAS in Early Childhood Education – Infant and Child Mental Health
- BAS in Forest Resource Management
- BAS in Information Technology – Network Administration and Security
- BAS in Information Technology – Software Development
- BAS in Marketing and Entrepreneurship
- BAS in Applied Management
- BAS in Realtime Court Reporting and Captioning
Lake Washington Institute of Technology: 11605 132nd Ave NE, Kirkland, WA 98034
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Applied Management – Entrepreneurship
- BAS in Applied Management – Human Resources Management
- BAS in Behavioral Healthcare
- BAS in Computing and Software Development
- BAS in Dental Hygiene
- BAS in Design
- BAS in Digital Gaming and Interactive Media
- BAS in Early Childhood Education
- BAS in Funeral Service Education
- BAS in Public Health
- BAS in Transportation – Logistics and Supply Management
North Seattle College: 9600 College Way N, Seattle, WA 98103
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Application Development
- BAS in Early Childhood Education
- BAS in International Business
- BAS in Residential and Commercial Property Management
Olympic College: 1600 Chester Ave Bremerton, WA 98337
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BS in Applied Science
- BS in Nursing (BSN)
Seattle Central College: 1701 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Allied Health Science
- BAS in Behavioral Sciences
- BS in Nursing (RN to BSN)
- BAS in Information Technology – Networking
- BAS in Community Health and Education
- BAS in Dental Hygiene
- BAS in Healthcare Services Management
Skagit Valley College: 2405 East College Way, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 and 1900 SE Pioneer Way, Oak Harbor, WA 98277.
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Applied Management
- BAS in Environmental Conservation
Spokane Falls Community College: 3410 W Whistalks Wy, Spokane, WA 99224
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Information Systems and Technology
- BAS in Applied Management
- BAS in Cyber Security
Tacoma Community College: 6501 S 19th St, Tacoma, WA 98466
Bachelor’s Degree(s) Offered:
- BAS in Community Health
- BAS in Health Information Management
- BAS in IT Networking – Information Systems and Technology
- BAS in Management
Community Colleges That Offer Baccalaureate Programs
I have always been a big advocate of community college and now I’m a huge advocate of community colleges that offer baccalaureate programs. Typically, community college students are low-income and nontraditional college students, such as older students, those who have families, or those who are first-generation college students. This opens the door and gives them access to a bachelor’s degree. In addition, bachelor’s degrees that are offered at a community college are degrees in select high-demand careers. Therefore, upon graduation, you will be able to find an excellent job with good pay!
—Sensei
