Community Colleges for Iowa Bachelor’s Degrees Interim Study Report

In January 2025, in his role as Chair of the Iowa House of Representatives Higher Education Committee, State Representative Taylor R. Collins issued a letter calling on Iowa’s community college presidents to conduct a comprehensive study on the feasibility of establishing community college baccalaureate degrees in the State. The letter requested that the colleges prepare an interim report by May 31, 2025, and a final report by October 31, 2025. This report addresses each of the study questions posed in the letter. It will inform the final report, which will include recommendations on: 

1. The feasibility of allowing for community college baccalaureate degree programs in Iowa. 

2. The scope and structure of such programs. 

3. A cost-benefit analysis, including estimated funding needs and potential economic returns. 

4. Proposed legislative and regulatory changes. 

Nationally, there are 203 community colleges in 24 states now offering 736 baccalaureate degrees. This growing trend comes from concern about the accessibility and affordability of these degrees at a time when more and more careers require them. Each of these states has taken a different approach to launching baccalaureate programs, and the breadth of programs varies widely.

Read the full report from Community Colleges for Iowa here.

 

This topic has received the following media coverage:

• Iowa's News Now (CBS)
• Radio Iowa
• KCRG TV
• The Gazette
• NPR
• The Hechinger Report
• Iowa Capital Dispatch