Hunter
01/15/26
A bill is being proposed in the Iowa Legislature that would change state law to allow community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees in an attempt to fill workforce needs in high-demand jobs within their regions.
The Gazette reports Emily Shields, executive director for the nonprofit Community Colleges for Iowa, told legislators that their studies show the need is undeniable. 42 percent of Iowa jobs require a bachelor’s degree, but only 22 percent of Iowans have one. Meanwhile, with Iowa’s public universities serving mostly central and eastern Iowa, many rural communities are 30 or more miles from a public four-year institution.
Community colleges accept anyone, and cost less than four-year colleges and universities.
The community colleges are asking for $20 million over five years in one-time startup funding from the legislature to launch their four-year degree programming.
Iowa would join a growing trend. Nationally, 203 community colleges in 24 states now offer 736 bachelor’s degrees — neighboring Illinois and Nebraska are considering legislation this session to make it happen.