This article has been updated to reflect 2026 data and recent developments.
Community colleges have traditionally been considered the go-to place for two-year vocational degrees or general college coursework for students who have plans to transfer to a four-year college or university. However, these institutions of higher education are increasing their program offerings to include a smattering of four-year degree options as well. Although not without their share of opposition, the four-year degree is slowly but surely becoming more common at the community college level. As of 2026, community college bachelor's degrees are available in 24 states, and Community College Review's What Is a Community College? 2026 Guide for Students notes that bachelor's degree programs are increasingly part of the community college landscape. Check out these states and schools delving into the frontier of the four-year degree program.
Chattanooga State Considers Addition of Five Four-Year Programs
A community college in Tennessee is looking at adding five new programs to its current catalog selections. The Chattanooga Times reported that Chattanooga State Community College was considering the addition of four-year degree programs in a variety of high-tech fields. The president of the college, Dr. Jim Cantanzaro, applied for approval of the programs and was waiting for a response from the Tennessee Board of Regents.
The community college wanted to add four-year degree programs in chemical process engineering, radiological sciences, nuclear engineering, technology management, and mechatronics engineering. The programs were specifically chosen based on the local employment needs of the current workforce. Dr. Cantanzaro made it clear the goal of the program addition was to fulfill those professional needs and not to transform Chattanooga State into a full-fledged four-year school.
Dr. Cantanzaro also explained that 60 percent of the material in the new degree programs would be “applied,” meaning the work would involve hands-on training in labs, plants, or clinical settings. At the time, the board of regents had not taken any action on the request, casting doubt on an imminent start date for the new degree programs. Although the original hope was to begin the programs in fall 2013, the programs would have required an additional year to pursue accreditation once they had been approved by the regents.
In 2026, Chattanooga State continues to emphasize two-year engineering degrees and transfer programs rather than awarding these proposed bachelor's degrees itself. Chattanooga State Community College currently offers 2+2 programs and Tennessee Transfer Pathways that allow students to complete their first two years at Chattanooga State and transfer to four-year institutions for Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Applied Science degrees.
This video offers an overview of the bachelor's program at Chattanooga State Community College.
Michigan Schools Poised to Make the Move
Community colleges in Michigan are also poised to make the move to a selection of four-year degree programs. According to MLive, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed legislation to allow community colleges in the state to offer four-year degree programs in the areas of maritime technology, culinary arts, energy production technology, and cement technology. Schools like Jackson Community College were considering the addition of at least one or two of these fields of study to broaden the options for their students.
Jackson Community College announced plans to add four-year degree programs in culinary arts and energy production technology. To correspond with the new offerings, the school also considered dropping “community” from its name. Cindy Allen, vice president of administration at JCC, told MLive the change would better reflect the major changes coming to the school. JCC also said that more than half the community colleges in Michigan at the time did not include the word “community” in their names.
The change did occur. The institution became Jackson College in 2013. Jackson College reports that it received authorization in 2014 for its first bachelor's degree, a Bachelor of Science in Energy Systems Management, and approval for a Bachelor of Applied Science in Culinary Management and Hospitality followed in 2017.
The development illustrates how community college bachelor's programs have moved beyond the proposal stage in many states. Community College Review's Community Colleges: A to Z Guide for 2026 provides a broader look at the degree, certificate, transfer, and workforce options now available.
Brevard Adds Four-Year Degrees to Meet Employment Needs
Four-year management degrees were coming to Brevard Community College, according to reports at the time. The school announced plans to add baccalaureate degrees in general business management and healthcare management. The inaugural programs were slated to begin in the upcoming fall semester. The programs would specifically be geared to professionals in the workforce who already had a two-year degree and required additional education to move their careers forward.
“These new degree programs are designed specifically to help working adults with an existing associate’s degree in these fields to obtain the further education they need to move up in the business or healthcare world and advance into management. They are also perfect for traditional students aiming for a career in business or healthcare,” John Glisch, a spokesman for Brevard Community College, told the Small Business Newswire.
Brevard Community College became Eastern Florida State College in 2013, reflecting its expansion into four-year degrees. In 2026, Eastern Florida State College offers 28 bachelor's specializations in business, health sciences, nursing, computer technologies, and science teacher education.
Community College Review's Why More Students Choose Community Colleges in 2026 provides additional context on the affordability, flexibility and career-focused programs attracting students to these institutions today.
This video looks at a proposal for a four-year degree program.
Colorado Faces Opposition to Four-Year Option
In Colorado, the quest to add four-year programs to community college catalogs received a serious amount of opposition. Four-year schools in the state, including the University of Colorado and Colorado State University, protested the plan, stating it would make the higher education system in the state less, rather than more, efficient overall. The Denver Post reported that the clash between two- and four-year schools would make it to state legislation, where the move would be considered by local lawmakers.
Those in favor of the change said Colorado needed to provide additional degree options at two-year schools because of the extensive rural population in the state that may not be able to travel to the location of a four-year college or university. The move would also make four-year degrees more cost-effective for cash-strapped students. According to reports at the time, two-thirds of the community college students in Colorado were working to put themselves through school.
Bruce Benson, president of the University of Colorado, argued the move would not be an efficient use of state and school resources. He pushed for an alternative that would allow greater cooperation between two- and four-year schools, rather than putting the two in direct competition. However, two-year schools would not be allowed to offer the same bachelor programs at four-year schools in the area, making the competition concern a bit of a moot point.
The landscape has changed significantly since that debate. By 2025-26, the Colorado Community College System was developing and offering Bachelor of Applied Science pathways in behavioral health as part of a statewide stackable education model, demonstrating how bachelor's-level education has become part of the state's community college system.
The trend also reflects the continuing focus on career-aligned education. Community College Review's Why Bachelor’s Degree Holders Are Returning to Community Colleges examines how workforce skills and specialized credentials are expanding the role community colleges play in higher education.
As more states begin offering four-year degree programs at community colleges, the change is offering college students options that were still largely experimental when these proposals first emerged. By 2026, community college bachelor's degrees have become an established part of higher education in many states, while remaining concentrated in selected workforce-oriented fields rather than replacing the traditional role of four-year universities.
