Getting a bachelor’s degree can open doors to more career opportunities, but the traditional college route can be difficult to afford, especially when tuition, housing and transportation are added to the bill.
California’s community colleges already offer a more affordable path through higher education, and these new statewide laws will expand the circumstances under which they can offer bachelor’s degrees.
How do the new California community college laws work
The state just signed Senate Bill 960 and Assembly Bill 2694 into law on September 18, 2026, with the new rules taking effect January 1, 2028.
The laws create a new framework for community colleges to offer four-year degrees, including limits on how many new bachelor’s programs each district can add, ranging from two to 12 depending on the district.
The laws set new requirements for which programs can be added and how many each community college district can offer. Here’s what students should know:
- 💼 New degrees must meet a workforce need: A community college will need to show that employers in its region currently need, or are expected to need, graduates in that field.
- 🎓 Programs can’t duplicate university degrees: Community colleges generally cannot create a degree that duplicates one offered by the University of California without an agreement. The new rules give them more flexibility when a similar program exists within the CSU system (particularly when local demand is not being met).
- 📊 Each district will have a limit on new programs: The “two to 12” figure does not mean every community college can add that many degrees each year. Instead, community college districts will be placed into five tiers based partly on student outcomes, such as how many students earn a degree or certificate or transfer to a four-year university.
- Tier 1: Up to 10 new programs, with some larger districts eligible for 11 or 12.
- Tier 2: Up to 8, 9, or 10.
- Tier 3: Up to 6.
- Tier 4: Up to 4.
- Tier 5: Up to 2.
The limits apply to new programs approved from 2028 onward. Bachelor’s degrees already approved before January 1, 2028, will not count toward those limits.
California’s community colleges already offer bachelor’s degrees in fields including healthcare, technology and other career-focused areas. The new laws expand the framework for adding more four-year options while connecting them to the needs of local communities and employers.
