Politics & Government
Arizona Community Colleges Can Now Offer 4-Year Degrees; Ducey
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill allowing state junior colleges to offer four-year degrees, aiming to expand college attainment.
PHOENIX, AZ — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Tuesday signed into law a bill that allows the state's community colleges to offer four-year degrees.
State Bill 1453 had broad support from members of the Arizona House and Senate, which passed the bill, 55-5 and 24-6, respectively.
Arizona joins 22 other states in allowing junior colleges to offer four-year degrees, including the likes of California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada and Texas.
Find out what's happening in Across Arizonafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A 2020 survey by the Arizona Board of Regents found that 22.4 percent of the state's residents with high school degrees completed two-or-four-year programs.
Today, I’m proud to sign #SB1453 to allow community colleges to offer four-year degrees, paving the way for Arizona’s current and future workforces and expanding opportunities for populations that are historically underrepresented in higher education. @PaulDBoyer @beckynutt3 1/
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) May 4, 2021
As of 2019, Arizona ranked 33rd nationally, at 30.2 percent, in terms of the percentage of residents aged 25 or older with a bachelor's degree or higher.
Find out what's happening in Across Arizonafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The passage and support of SB1453 is a historic moment for Arizona's higher education system. We thank Representative @beckynutt3 and Senator @PaulDBoyer for keeping students top of mind. Read Interim Chancellor, Dr. Steven R. Gonzales' full statement: https://t.co/UVMLro03UM pic.twitter.com/m3W7Yromeg
— Maricopa Community Colleges (@mcccd) April 28, 2021
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