California lawmakers are considering legislation that could allow community colleges to grant bachelor’s degrees, a move proponents say is necessary to address workforce shortages and expand access to higher education. Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria, a Democrat representing Merced, introduced Assembly Bill 2301, specifically targeting the nursing shortage by enabling up to ten community colleges statewide to offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
“Our communities have changed,” Soria said. “Our workers’ needs have changed, but our higher education system has not kept up to pace.”
A second bill, Assembly Bill 2694, introduced by Assemblymember David Alvarez (D–San Diego), takes a broader approach. It would permit community colleges to develop bachelor’s degree programs in fields where regional workforce demands are unmet and no existing college offers such a program. Dr. Lisa Aguilera-Lawson, superintendent of San Joaquin Delta College, suggested this could be transformative for specialized fields.
“We have our electron microscopy program, which is one of the only community colleges in the U.S.,” Aguilera-Lawson told CBS News Sacramento. “To have such a program, it would be wonderful if we had a bachelor’s degree in that field.”
The push to expand bachelor’s degree offerings at community colleges comes after the passage of a 2021 law that allowed these institutions to develop up to 30 new degree programs annually, with the stipulation that they not duplicate programs already available at University of California or California State University campuses. The current legislation seeks to build upon that framework, addressing concerns that the existing limitations are insufficient to meet evolving workforce needs.
Esmeralda Soria represents the 27th Assembly District, encompassing Fresno, Madera and Merced counties, and maintains district offices in Merced and Fresno, in addition to her Sacramento office. She previously served as the first Latina council president in Fresno and ran for Congress in 2020.
