Illinois Community Colleges May Soon Offer Bachelor’s Degrees
Credit: Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune / Tribune News Service / Getty Images- The Illinois General Assembly is considering a bill to bring bachelor’s programs to community colleges.
- Gov. JB Pritzker endorsed this proposal.
- Public community colleges in 24 states already offer baccalaureate programs.
- In Illinois, community colleges could only offer degree programs aligned with local workforce needs.
Illinois lawmakers are considering a proposal to allow the state’s community colleges to begin offering bachelor’s degrees for “in-demand career paths.”
Gov. JB Pritzker advocated for this expansion in late February during an address to the Illinois General Assembly. If enacted, Illinois would become the 25th state in the U.S. to allow its public community colleges to offer bachelor’s degree programs, according to the Community College Baccalaureate Association (CCBA).
“With lower tuition rates and a greater presence across the state — especially in rural areas — community colleges provide the flexibility and affordability students need,” Pritzker said. “This is a consumer-driven, student-centered proposal that will help fill the needs of regional employers in high-need sectors and create a pathway to stable, quality jobs for more Illinoisans.”
He cited nursing, advanced manufacturing, and early childhood education as fields that could benefit from degree expansion.
State Sen. Michael Halpin introduced a bill that would allow public community colleges in the state to begin offering bachelor’s degrees. Shortly after Pritzker’s endorsement, the proposal attracted four co-sponsors.
The bill does not, however, give community colleges the ultimate power to add bachelor’s programs.
According to the bill, the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) must show that a proposed baccalaureate program meets the following criteria:
- There is a sufficient labor market for the proposed degree program.
- There is sufficient student demand for the program.
- The program will not “unnecessarily duplicate” another bachelor’s program at another institution “in the community college’s district.”
- The program builds on existing associate degree programs at the community college.
- Curriculum aligns with state, federal, and local requirements and will prepare students to meet their professional goals.
- The community college has the budget to support this new program.
If the board of trustees at a community college proposes a bachelor’s program in the same district as the main campus of another college or university, it must notify that institution before submitting a proposal. The existing institution can then provide a response to the state board for review but cannot “prevent” the community college from offering a bachelor’s degree.
The bill adds that tuition for the third and fourth years of a bachelor’s program at a community college may not be higher than 150% of the per-credit tuition for associate degree courses. For example, if a college’s associate-level courses cost $50 per credit, the school’s baccalaureate-level courses cannot cost more than $75 per credit.
Pritzker argued that allowing community colleges to offer four-year degrees creates opportunities for students who don’t live close to public universities.
“One of those students is Melissa McKaig of Jerseyville who is here today,” he said, addressing the General Assembly.
“Melissa is a nursing student at Lewis and Clark Community College, and a student trustee, along with being a devoted mother and grandmother. Melissa wants to pursue a baccalaureate degree in nursing — but the cost and the commute to a school farther away will make it too expensive.”
Four Illinois institutions became the first community colleges in the U.S. to utilize the Common App college application platform, beginning with the 2024-25 application season. Three more will be added to the platform for the 2025-26 season.
Illinois offers 48 community colleges and one multi-community college center across 39 districts, according to ICCB.
Democrats control the state House of Representatives, Senate, and governorship. Pritzker’s endorsement of offering bachelor’s degrees at community colleges could shepherd the bill through the legislature before the General Assembly adjourns May 31.