Evans School Faculty and Researcher Articles

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    Affordable Bachelor’s Degrees are Available at Community Colleges – Depending on Where You Live
    (2025-10-15) Meza, Elizabeth
    Rising college costs have recently led potential students to forego higher education, with adults and low-income students citing affordability as a major barrier. In part addressing this problem, community college baccalaureate (CCB) degree programs have emerged nationwide to offer an affordable path to a bachelor’s degree that makes college more accessible. This study examines the affordability of CCB degrees across 15 states, analyzing tuition and fees, total cost of attendance, and net price compared to public four-year institutions. Using IPEDS data and institutional sources, the analysis reveals that CCB programs offer significant affordability advantages over traditional university pathways. CCB tuition and fees average $5,417 annually compared to $10,022 at public four-year institutions—a difference of nearly $4,600 per year. But college costs are much more than just tuition and fees. In states where data is available, CCB students pay an average net price (total cost of attendance minus financial aid) of $8,195 per year versus $14,190 at public universities, representing a 42% reduction in actual costs. The financial aid coverage patterns demonstrate that CCB programs effectively serve high-need populations, with aid covering 43% of total attendance costs compared to 30% at public universities. This substantial difference reflects CCB programs' ability to reach adult learners, working students, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
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    How much less? Examining the tuition and fees of bahelor's degrees offered by community collges
    (2025-02-01) Meza, Elizabeth; Pawlicki, Colleen
    Community college baccalaureate (CCB) programs offer a significantly more affordable pathway to a bachelor's degree compared to public four-year universities and private for-profit institutions, with tuition sometimes less than half that of traditional university programs. Tuition structures vary across states, with some charging uniform rates across lower- and upper-division coursework and others imposing higher fees for upper-division courses; however, CCB tuition often remains comparable to associate degree costs. Beyond tuition, students can further reduce expenses by living at home and staying connected to their local communities. These cost advantages make CCB programs particularly attractive to lower-income students, working adults, older learners, and students of color — populations that tend to prioritize sticker price over net price when making enrollment decisions. The findings suggest that CCB programs serve as an important access point for underrepresented and cost-sensitive students seeking an affordable route to baccalaureate attainment.