Tempe, Ariz., July 23, 2026 – Maricopa Community Colleges has officially surpassed the 10,000-student mark as record enrollment in the Valley’s most affordable bachelor’s degree programs continues to grow. With the fall semester quickly approaching, the system is preparing to welcome back bachelor’s students across 11 programs.
“Community colleges are built for the real world,” said Dr. Steven Bloomberg, Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor. “Students need pathways that take them from education directly into the workforce, and our bachelor’s degrees serve as the engine for those opportunities.”
A Milestone Moment
The system’s 10,000-plus bachelor’s students and counting signal a shift in learners' priorities. When it comes to obtaining a college degree, students are placing a greater emphasis on affordability and workforce readiness. With 11 degree programs currently available, students can seamlessly transfer up to 90 credits from any of the system’s 10 colleges into their preferred bachelor’s program. To date, the system has conferred nearly 600 bachelor’s degrees since 2024.
Why it Matters
According to a recent report from the National Bureau of Economic Research, community colleges offering bachelor’s degrees increased from 2.1 percent to 16.5 percent between 2004 and 2022. In the first comprehensive review of national labor market outcomes related to community college bachelor’s degrees (CCBs), the National Bureau of Economic Research found that CCB recipients earned approximately 14 percent more in earnings than associate degree recipients from the same institution. Furthermore, in fields like nursing and criminal justice, CCB recipients achieve earnings parity with bachelor’s degree holders from traditional four-year institutions. Two-year institutions continue to experience enrollment growth. In fact, last fall, enrollment at community colleges rose by 3% nationwide—adding nearly 173,000 students.
Tuition Remains Frozen
By keeping tuition frozen for the fourth consecutive year, the system offers Arizonans a cost-effective option, with many of the workforce-aligned bachelor’s degrees costing less than $15,000 to complete. At Arizona’s public universities, tuition alone for a four-year degree is over $11,000 per academic year. Additionally, students attending Maricopa Community Colleges can live close to home, keep their jobs, and still earn bachelor’s degrees with real market value, all at a fraction of the cost.
“Listening to the needs of today’s learners is key,” continued Dr. Bloomberg. “Students want the ability to learn and shape their futures close to home, and our bachelor’s degree offerings do just that.”
On the Horizon
With multi-year plans to expand four-year degree offerings already underway, Maricopa Community Colleges will introduce three new degrees in Fall 2027: Exercise Science, Health Services Leadership, and Law and Legal Studies. Pending approval from the Higher Learning Commission, students will be able to enroll in these programs in Spring 2027. This rollout is part of a larger initiative to introduce an additional 26 bachelor’s degrees in high-demand workforce fields by 2032.
Learn more about the Valley’s most affordable bachelor’s degrees at maricopa.edu.
###
Media Contacts:
Lindsey Wilson, [email protected], (480) 703-8378
Mel Valenzuela, [email protected], (480) 298-5364
About Maricopa Community Colleges
The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is one of the largest community college systems in the nation, serving approximately 140,000 students annually across 10 colleges. MCCCD offers affordable, high-quality education through associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, industry-recognized certificates, and workforce training programs. For more information, visit www.maricopa.edu.