Staff Reports | Community Updates
Maricopa Community Colleges has surpassed the 10,000-student mark in its bachelor’s degree programs as enrollment continues to grow ahead of the fall semester. The system is preparing to welcome students across 11 bachelor’s degree programs.
“Community colleges are built for the real world,” said Dr. Steven Bloomberg, chancellor of Maricopa Community Colleges. “Students need pathways that take them from education directly into the workforce, and our bachelor’s degrees serve as the engine for those opportunities.”
More than 10,000 students are now enrolled in the system’s bachelor’s degree programs, reflecting growing interest in affordable, workforce-focused higher education. Students can transfer up to 90 credits from any of the system’s 10 colleges into one of 11 bachelor’s degree programs. Since 2024, Maricopa Community Colleges has conferred nearly 600 bachelor’s degrees, according to a press release.
A recent report from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that the percentage of community colleges offering bachelor’s degrees increased from 2.1% to 16.5% between 2004 and 2022.
In what the organization described as the first comprehensive review of national labor market outcomes related to community college bachelor’s degrees, researchers found that graduates earned about 14% more than associate degree recipients from the same institution. The report also found that graduates in fields such as nursing and criminal justice achieved earnings comparable to those of bachelor’s degree holders from traditional four-year institutions.
Community colleges nationwide continue to experience enrollment growth. Last fall, community college enrollment increased by 3%, adding nearly 173,000 students.
Tuition remains frozen
Maricopa Community Colleges has frozen tuition for a fourth consecutive year. Many of the system’s bachelor’s degree programs cost less than $15,000 to complete.
At Arizona’s public universities, tuition for a four-year degree exceeds $11,000 per academic year, excluding other costs. Maricopa Community Colleges said its students can remain close to home, continue working and earn a bachelor’s degree while reducing education expenses.
“Listening to the needs of today’s learners is key,” Dr. Bloomberg said. “Students want the ability to learn and shape their futures close to home, and our bachelor’s degree offerings do just that.”
