Community College Baccalaureate Degree Playbook

Millions of students want to earn a bachelor’s degree tied to a good job but face barriers to traditional higher education was never designed to the degree. Community college baccalaureate or bachelor’s (CCB) degrees are changing that, and 24 states have now authorized community colleges to offer them. Yet state leaders seeking to expand or implement these programs often lack the evidence-based guidance they need. This playbook, organized as a series of briefs, fills that gap. Developed by researchers who have spent years working directly with community college practitioners, and informed by state leaders and nationally recognized scholars, it provides a research-grounded, action-oriented set of considerations and recommendations to planning and implementing CCB degrees that are affordable, accessible, equitable, and built to last.