A 4-year degree at a quarter of the cost? Yes, it's possible
For too many people, the dream of a college degree — and the opportunities it offers — is overshadowed by the looming threat of student debt.
More than half U.S. adults without a college degree cite the cost of a degree as the primary reason for not enrolling, according to Gallup and the Lumina Foundation.
When I took the helm of Scottsdale Community College in July 2022, I knew that we could do something about that. And so, after years of dedicated work by our faculty and staff, Scottsdale Community College now offers its first-ever, four-year degree program, a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management.
By offering this new program at one-quarter of what it costs at other institutions, we hope it will create opportunities for more students to achieve their educational goals and follow their passions without the heavy financial burden usually associated with obtaining a bachelor's degree.
SCC's Bachelor of Business Administration program is about more than just dollars and cents, though.
I've spoken to many of our students, and they've told me how difficult it can be to find affordable, practical programs that lead directly to job opportunities.
This degree is for them.
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Our team developed this curriculum based on extensive collaboration with local business leaders, who made it clear that they need graduates with skills they can apply from day one.
The coursework emphasizes practical knowledge and real-world applications, so students are fully prepared to enter and thrive in the workplace.
While this four-year degree is a new offering for students, it's not a new direction for the college. Instead, I see it as an extension of SCC's missing to expand access to quality education for all, especially underserved communities.
SCC serves approximately 10,000 students each year, nearly half of whom represent minority and underserved student populations. More than a quarter of our student population self-identifies as Hispanic.
This is a game-changer for SCC students, allowing them to pursue an affordable bachelor's degree and open many new possibilities for future careers.
We're also seeing tremendous interest in the bachelor's program from graduates of SCC occupational programs, such as culinary, interior design and computer information systems.
These graduates are now in the workforce and recognize that they need a bachelor's degree to move into leadership roles.
Obtaining formal training in how to help run their organizations effectively will help complement their current skill set and set them on a pathway for greater success.
Combine that with small class sizes and meaningful relationships with our expert faculty, and I'm truly proud that SCC can offer this tremendous value to our community.
Maricopa Community Colleges now offer 11 bachelor's degree programs across nine institutions, an effort that has led to marked enrollment gains since the first offerings in 2023.
Beyond the considerable tuition cost savings, students in these bachelor's programs appreciate the greater emphasis on hands-on, real-world skills that they can apply to their work immediately, rather than the greater focus on theory present at four-year universities.
This is just the beginning.
Our commitment to expanding educational opportunities will continue, and we're excited about the possibilities ahead as we prepare more students for leadership roles in their communities.
I've always believed in the power of education to change lives, and with our new Bachelor of Business Administration, I know we'll be changing many more.
Dr. Eric Leshinskie is president of Scottsdale Community College. Reach him at eric.leshinskie@scottsdalecc.edu.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Community college is an affordable bachelor's degree option | Opinion
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