Staff Reports | Community Updates
Scottsdale Community College is celebrating the start of a new semester with a historic milestone by launching its first-ever bachelor’s degree program, the bachelor of business administration in management.
As of the start of the fall semester, the program has enrolled 474 students, setting a record for the largest debut enrollment of any bachelor’s program in the Maricopa County Community College District, according to a press release.
“This moment represents both history and opportunity,” said SCC President Dr. Eric Leshinskie, in a prepared statement.
“When you offer high-quality education that’s both practical and affordable, students show up. Our new bachelor’s degree is opening doors for students who want to earn a four-year degree right here in their community, without taking on the debt of a traditional university.”
The new BBA program equips students with career-ready skills in leadership, operations, and organizational strategy, offering small class sizes, strong faculty support, and a streamlined, affordable curriculum. Students pay about one-third the tuition of a traditional four-year state university, with courses designed in collaboration with local business leaders to ensure workforce relevance.
Classes officially began Monday, Aug. 25, with nearly 100 students already on track to complete their bachelor’s degree in two years or less, thanks to previously earned credits.
In attendance was Elizabeth Johnson-Russell, 52, who overcame her own personal traumas before finding her path back through education. After earning an associates degree, she enrolled in SCC’s BBA program with the goal of continuing on to a master’s degree.
“Education is the one thing that no one can take away from you,” Ms. Johnson-Russell said. “Achieving this degree shows perseverance, and no matter what we go through in life, there’s no reason why we can’t get over it and move forward. Believe in yourself – you can do this.”
Savannah Steinnam, 22, owns a thriving hair salon in Queen Creek and already employs five stylists since opening earlier this year. She enrolled in SCC’s BBA program to build the management skills needed to keep her business growing.
“Business is such a useful degree – you can apply it to everything,” she says. “I started doing hair, realized I could make a business out of it, and now I want the background knowledge to keep building and leading my company.”
The BBA in Management is part of SCC’s broader momentum: the College is experiencing more than 20% overall enrollment growth this fall compared to last year, one of the most substantial increases in a decade. Across the Maricopa Community College system, enrollment is also up double digits, outpacing national averages.
“This is about more than numbers,” Dr. Leshinskie added. “It’s about creating pathways that meet students where they are and preparing them for the careers they want. Our mission is to remove barriers between students and opportunity – and this bachelor’s degree is just the beginning.”
