Two bills — Senate Bill 960 and Assembly Bill 2694 — passed the California Legislature in early September 2026 and now sit on Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk. If signed, California community colleges could begin offering significantly more bachelor's degrees by 2028. The catch: the community colleges themselves are now opposing the bills over last-minute amendments, and Newsom has vetoed similar legislation before.

California's Legislature just sent the governor a two-bill package that could reshape how students in the state's largest public college system earn bachelor's degrees. The question now is whether Newsom will sign it — and what it would actually mean for students if he does.

What the Bills Would Do

Senate Bill 960, authored by Sen. Christopher Cabaldon (D-Napa), and Assembly Bill 2694, authored by Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-Chula Vista), both passed by wide margins and are linked — if Newsom vetoes one, both fail.

Together, the bills would allow California's 116 community colleges to offer more bachelor's degrees than they currently can. Under the proposed system, a college could add two to twelve new bachelor's degree programs starting in 2028. The number allowed would depend on that college's performance: students' rates of completing certificates, degrees, and successful transfers determine how much expansion a district earns.

No district could propose more than three new programs per year, and any new degree would need to show demonstrated workforce need in its region. The bills explicitly prioritize underserved parts of the state — the Central Valley, the Inland Empire — and fields with shortages, including nursing.

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The Twist: Community Colleges Are Now Opposing Their Own Bills

This is where the story gets complicated. The Community College League of California, the organization that represents the state's community college districts, is now opposing the very legislation designed to expand their programs.

The reversal happened fast. Lawmakers added significant amendments to both bills in the final weeks of the legislative session. Larry Galizio, president and CEO of the League, said the changes came too late for colleges to properly evaluate them. "We're being asked to support a process that is not completely understood or vetted at the last minute," Galizio said, calling it "not great policymaking."1

The amendments added accountability requirements and imposed limits on how quickly colleges could grow their bachelor's offerings. Community college leaders say the requirements are too complex and unclear to implement confidently.

The bills are legally linked. If Newsom signs only one or vetoes only one, neither becomes law. Students tracking this legislation should watch for a single decision that affects both.

The Real News: CSU Dropped Its Opposition

If you want to understand why these bills might actually pass this time, look past the community college opposition and notice who is no longer fighting them: California State University.

For years, the CSU system has been the primary institutional obstacle to community college bachelor's degree expansion. The worry was duplication — why would the state need community colleges offering bachelor's programs if CSU already does? That turf argument carried real weight in Sacramento.

CSU's decision to step aside, combined with the governor's office reportedly being involved in revising the bills, makes this year's legislation different from the bills Newsom previously vetoed.2 It's still not a certain signature, but the political calculus has shifted.

If you're a California student interested in pursuing a bachelor's degree at a community college, don't wait for these bills. The state's existing baccalaureate pilot — launched in 2015 — already allows 15 community colleges to offer specific bachelor's degrees right now. Search the California Community Colleges website for current baccalaureate programs in your area.

What This Means for Current Students

Here's what often gets buried in coverage of this legislation: even if Newsom signs both bills, nothing changes for students until 2028 at the earliest.

The accountability metrics built into the bills mean colleges won't unlock new degree slots immediately. They'll need to demonstrate performance first. Then they'll go through an approval process. Then the programs need to be built.

If you're a high school junior or senior, or a current community college student, these bills won't affect your options on the timeline that matters to you right now.

What does matter right now:

  • California's existing baccalaureate programs are already available at 15 community colleges across the state. These cover fields including dental hygiene, automotive technology, health information management, and early childhood education — areas where a bachelor's degree provides a clear salary bump but a traditional four-year university route can cost far more.
  • Transferring to a UC or CSU remains the most common path to a bachelor's degree for community college students. If that's your goal, the community college enrollment surge this spring shows that competition for spots in transfer pipelines is growing — don't put off building your transfer plan.
  • Transfer scholarships exist specifically for students moving from community college to four-year schools. See transfer student scholarship options for programs worth applying for.

The Cost Angle

The financial argument for the community college bachelor's degree route is straightforward. California community colleges charge a per-unit fee that works out to roughly a fraction of what a CSU or UC costs annually. For a student who completes a full four-year bachelor's at a community college, total tuition could be a quarter — or less — of the equivalent degree from a state university.

The average cost of community college in California remains among the lowest in the country. That's the appeal. Whether these bills become law or not, that financial advantage already exists for the bachelor's programs currently offered.

California is also one of several states that have experimented with free community college programs, meaning some students pay nothing at all for the first two years.

For families thinking through the math on how to fund college without taking on heavy debt, the community college route — even the existing one — is worth modeling. See how to pay for college without your parents for a broader look at options.

Next Steps

If you're in California and following this closely:

  1. Check the governor's signing deadline. Newsom typically has until mid-October to act on bills passed at the end of the legislative session. If he signs, look for implementation guidance from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office.
  2. Find programs that exist today. Don't wait for 2028. Visit the California Community Colleges website and search for current baccalaureate programs at colleges near you.
  3. If your goal is a bachelor's degree and cost is the main concern, run the numbers on both the transfer-to-UC/CSU path and any existing community college bachelor's options in your field before defaulting to one route.
  4. Transfer students: Application windows for UC and CSU transfer applicants open in the fall. The growth in transfer student numbers this year means earlier preparation matters more than ever.

Footnotes

  1. CalMatters. (2026, September 4). Why community colleges no longer back this effort to help them offer more bachelor's degrees. CalMatters. https://calmatters.org/education/higher-education/2026/09/community-college-bachelors-degrees-california/ ↩

  2. Inside Higher Ed. (2026, August 28). Calif. Bills Could Expand Community College Bachelor Degrees. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/state-policy/2026/08/28/calif-bills-could-expand-community-college-bachelor-degrees ↩