This article has been updated to reflect 2026 data and recent developments
College students in Michigan hoping for another option in four-year degrees had to wait a little longer. A bill to allow community colleges in Michigan to offer a handful of bachelor’s degrees stalled for a time, while legislators determined the constitutionality of the proposal. Despite the roadblock, many Michigan lawmakers and educators were optimistic they would soon have an affordable option to offer students who were hindered by the cost and location of four-year universities and colleges throughout the state.
The proposal ultimately became law in December 2012. Michigan law now authorizes community colleges to grant baccalaureate degrees in cement technology, maritime technology, energy production technology, and culinary arts. For a broader look at how these programs have expanded nationally, see Community College Review's Community College Bachelor’s Degree or Transfer?.
Providing More Choices
According to an article at Central Michigan Life, a bill that would allow community colleges to offer select four-year degree programs passed through the State House in June 2011. The bill then went to the Senate’s Committee on Education for review, where it was under discussion. The bill would allow for a handful of career-oriented degree programs to be offered at community colleges statewide, including programs in energy production, concrete technology, maritime technology, culinary arts, and nursing.
“Some of the degrees are not offered by any of the universities in the state,” Matt Miller, public relations director for Mid Michigan Community College, told Central Michigan Life. “Some of the community colleges do offer associate degrees in a couple of these areas, but in order to get their bachelor’s, they have to go someplace else, so it would be helpful to our students to have this option.”
Most of the areas of study included on this list were already offered as two-year degrees at many of the Michigan community colleges. This meant the cost for expanding the programs to four years would be relatively minimal, ensuring that tuition costs would not have to increase significantly for students who wanted to pursue the longer programs. For example, Jackson Community College already offered three years of study toward a nursing degree, so adding the fourth year would not add much to the cost of the program. The school would also like to provide bachelor’s degrees in culinary arts and energy production technology.
“Offering these degrees would not cost our taxpayers any more,” Daniel Phelan, president of JCC, said at the time. “We have the infrastructure and we have the equipment to do this,” Phelan added.
In 2026, Jackson College lists a Bachelor of Science in Energy Systems among its degree offerings. Students interested in how community college bachelor's programs have evolved can also read Community College Review's Obtaining Your Bachelor's Degree at a Community College.
Offering Low-Cost Education Options
Contemporary reports cited figures from Michigan College Guide that showed a significant difference in cost between four-year and two-year schools in the state. According to the guide, private colleges in the state charged $20,000 to $30,000 annually for tuition alone. State universities ran about $6,000 to $11,000 annually, while community colleges typically cost between $1,600 and $3,000 each year.
While community colleges could offer a low-cost option to the more expensive four-year schools, these institutions were not interested in becoming full-fledged universities to compete with another four-year school in the state.
“I do not want JCC to be a university,” Phelan said at the time. “What we are interested in is offering low-cost, career-oriented courses that are being sought by students. It’s about providing an educated workforce.”
That career-oriented focus remains central to community colleges in 2026. Community College Review's Most In-Demand Community College Majors for 2026 examines current workforce demand in health care, technology, skilled trades, and other career fields.
Opposition to the Bill
While community colleges and many lawmakers were in favor of the bill, not everyone was on board with the idea of providing four-year degrees at two-year institutions. According to a report at Michigan Public, universities and four-year colleges were concerned about the duplication of bachelor’s degrees throughout the state if community colleges were allowed to join in those offerings. The president of Ferris State University, David Eisler, said that while he opposed the offering of four-year degrees at community colleges, he would welcome additional partnerships between Ferris and two-year schools.
“We take educational partnerships very seriously,” Eisler said at the time, and then added, “If you take back this bill, and a community college wants to create a nursing program, we will partner with them and make it happen at any campus.”
At the time, Ferris had partnerships with 17 of the community colleges around Michigan.
Mike Boulus, president of the Council of State Universities of Michigan, agreed with Eisler’s concerns over the duplication of programs. Boulus told Central Michigan Life, “All this does is bring unnecessary competition between universities and community colleges. All 15 public universities and the smaller private colleges are united against this bill.”
Is it Constitutional?
The most recent concern about the bill was introduced to the Senate Education Committee. Government policy lawyer Leonard Wolfe told the committee that adding four-year degrees at community colleges could be a violation of the state’s constitution. According to Michigan’s constitution, community colleges and four-year institutions have entirely different modes of governance and methods of funding. That could mean that community colleges would have to change their structure to become universities if they were to offer bachelor’s degrees on their campuses.
Community colleges in Michigan are governed by locally elected boards and are subject to controls from the School Boards of Education. Funding comes in part from taxpayer dollars, through revenue from property taxes. On the other hand, state universities and private colleges are overseen by governor-appointed boards, and they are not subject to controls from the Boards of Education. Their funding does not come from property taxes.
At the time, the Senate Education Committee explored the question of whether four-year degrees at community colleges would fit within the boundaries of the state constitution. While Wolfe was a highly respected professional in his field who raised valid points of constitutionality, some believed the law was left purposely vague to allow lawmakers to determine how to handle these issues. There was still optimism from many that the bill would eventually be passed by state congress.
That optimism proved justified. The bill passed the Senate and House in December 2012 and was signed by Gov. Rick Snyder on December 27, 2012. The enacted law authorized community college baccalaureate programs in cement technology, maritime technology, energy production technology, and culinary arts. Nursing, although included in earlier versions of the proposal, was removed from the final authorization.
The Michigan debate also anticipated a much broader change in community college education. By 2026, 24 states allow community colleges to offer bachelor's degrees, according to data summarized by Community College Review. Students considering these newer four-year options can review Community College Review's What Is a Community College? 2026 Guide for Students for additional context on how the role of community colleges has expanded.
