At 10,000 Degrees, we believe students should not have to choose between earning a bachelor’s degree and meeting their basic needs. Yet for many of our community college students who wish to transfer to a four-year institution, the price of transferring goes way beyond tuition. Housing and transportation costs, lost wages, and family responsibilities can make attending a four-year institution financially impossible.
In her new EdSource commentary, Tania Requenes, our Director of Community College Persistence, makes a compelling case for expanding bachelor’s degree programs at California community colleges. Drawing on her experience as both a 10,000 Degrees alum and director who has worked with thousands of students, Tania explains how this pathway expands opportunities for our students, not limits them.
Community college bachelor’s degrees would give more students the chance to advance their education while remaining connected to the jobs, families, and support systems that sustain them. This is not about diminishing our CSU and UC systems. We support all pathways to a degree, and in fact are expanding our community college transfer program with our new 2027-2031 Strategic Plan. Of the 6,500 college students we’ll be supporting this fall with our scholarships and near-peer support, an estimated 50% will be community college students. Each year, we celebrate nearly 200 students transferring to a four-year institution. And our students who start at a community college, consistently transfer to and graduate from four-year institutions at double the national rate. At 10,000 Degrees, we are committed to ensuring a student’s circumstances never determine how far their education can take them.
I am proud to share Tania’s important perspective. I invite you to read “Not every California student can afford to transfer. Community college bachelor’s degrees could help” and join us in asking a fundamental question: What can we do to help more students to earn a degree?
With deepest gratitude,
Kim Mazzuca
President & CEO