Community
New bachelor’s-degree caps concern Southern California community colleges
Leaders in San Diego and the Inland Empire say California’s new tiered limits could eventually restrict community-college programs designed for local workforce needs.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2694 and Senate Bill 960 in September, creating a five-tier system that will cap how many bachelor’s-degree programs each community-college district may offer beginning in 2028. EdSource reported October 18 that the state has not yet finalized where districts will fall, leaving college leaders uncertain about how many future programs they can add.
Effective: 2028
Range: Two to 12 programs, depending on a district’s tier
Existing approvals: Programs approved before January 1, 2028, do not count toward the caps
What it means locally
San Diego Community College District Chancellor Gregory Smith estimates his district would land in Tier 3, which would allow six programs. Its four existing bachelor’s degrees would be exempt, but Smith said the limit could eventually hamper the district’s ability to respond as local industries change.
San Bernardino Community College District Chancellor Diana Rodriguez raised a similar concern about healthcare training for the Inland Empire’s growing and aging population. An unofficial San Diego analysis also placed the Grossmont-Cuyamaca district among the lower-rated districts. State officials say an official tier analysis should be completed in the coming months.
Full report and further details: Read the original EdSource report →