Two bills currently under consideration in the Illinois General Assembly, House Bill 3717 and Senate Bill 2482, propose to amend the Public Community College Act to allow community college districts to offer baccalaureate degree programs under certain conditions. These bills aim to address workforce needs, promote equitable access to higher education, and provide more affordable educational opportunities for Illinois residents.

Both bills share similar key provisions:

• Baccalaureate Degree Programs: They would allow community college boards of trustees to establish and offer baccalaureate degree programs and confer bachelor’s degrees if specific conditions are met.
• Application and Approval: They require community colleges to apply for approval from the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and meet specified requirements for establishing a baccalaureate degree program.
• Conditions for Approval: These include demonstrating unmet workforce needs in the region, holding applicable accreditation or having applied for it, and demonstrating how the program will improve racial and socioeconomic equity in student access, enrollment, and completion.
• Tuition: They cap tuition per credit hour for the third and fourth years of a baccalaureate program at 150% of the tuition per credit hour of related lower-division courses.
• Annual Reporting: They mandate that community college districts offering baccalaureate degrees submit annual reports to the ICCB, including data on student enrollment, degrees completed, workforce demand, and tuition costs.
• Statewide Evaluation: They call for a statewide evaluation of all baccalaureate degree programs established under the Act, to be reported to various stakeholders, including the Board of Higher Education, legislative leaders, and the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget.

The bills also include findings that emphasize the increasing importance of four-year degrees, the need to promote equitable access to higher education (especially for underserved and rural populations), and the potential for community colleges to fill gaps in the state’s higher education system.

Senate Bill 2482 was introduced on February 7, 2025, by Senator Michael W. Halpin (D-36), while House Bill 3717 was introduced on February 18, 2025, by Representative Tracy Katz Muhl (D-58).

Governor Pritzker also voiced his support for this move during last week’s budget address. 

“I’m proposing we allow Community Colleges to offer four- year Baccalaureate Degrees for in-demand career paths – like nursing, advanced manufacturing, early childhood education, and beyond. With lower tuition rates and a greater presence across the state — especially in rural areas — community colleges provide the flexibility and affordability students need. This is a consumer driven, student-centered proposal that will help fill the needs of regional employers in high-need sectors and create a pathway to stable, quality jobs for more Illinoisans.”

Illinois has 45 community colleges in the state.

Twenty-four other states allow community colleges to offer bachelor’s degrees, including Indiana, Missouri and Ohio.