Half of all states now enable their community colleges to offer bachelor's degrees. 

Debra Bragg, co-author of a New America report on the community college baccalaureate landscape, describes what the research says about these programs, how to gauge their effectiveness, and why so many students struggle along the traditional path of transferring from two-year to four-year institutions.

Several organizations are working to eliminate barriers so that more Black, Latino, low-income, and first-generation students can earn college degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Many of these programs target students as early as possible to demystify the fields and get students comfortable with them long before they apply for college. 

Free community college is missing from the proposed new $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act, but the measure still provides significant support for adult students and the colleges that help them learn and earn.

Importantly, the bill’s current version includes much-needed community college investments that could help hundreds of thousands of students—including people of color who face tough barriers to education—get the skills and credentials they need to thrive in today’s economy.