Maricopa Community Colleges is celebrating another historic commencement season, as the 10-college system prepares to confer over 300 workforce-aligned bachelor’s degrees to graduates from nine programs. This achievement marks the largest bachelor’s graduating class since programs first launched in Fall 2023.
“Our bachelor’s degree programs have proven to be a tremendous success, not only because they are affordable and accessible but for the immediate impact our graduates will have right here in our communities,” said Dr. Steven R. Gonzales, Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor. “By keeping tuition low and degrees aligned with Arizona’s high-demand industries, our graduates are securing rewarding careers while also seeing a strong return on their investment in education.”
Shaping Arizona’s Workforce
This year’s graduates are earning diplomas from nine of the system’s 11 bachelor’s degree programs, including the first-ever cohorts in Business Administration - Management, Data Analytics and Programming, Nuclear Medicine Technology and Computed Tomography, and Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN), as well as Behavioral Sciences, Early Childhood Education and Dual Language, Elementary Education and Special Education, Information Technology, and Public Safety Administration.
The Valley’s Most Affordable Bachelor’s Degree
Maricopa Community Colleges continues to provide the most affordable and accessible pathway to higher education in Maricopa County. Across its 10 colleges, tuition will remain unchanged for the fourth consecutive academic year this Fall. This pricing structure reinforces the system’s commitment to creating access and opportunity for every Arizonan. For students across the Valley, earning a four-year degree means paying less—one-third of the cost when compared to in-state tuition at Arizona’s three public universities.
The Path Forward
Since launching bachelor’s degrees, Maricopa Community Colleges have continued to break enrollment records, with nearly 10,000 students currently enrolled across all programs. By Fall 2027, the system is slated to launch new degree offerings annually for five consecutive years, with the goal of offering 26 affordable bachelor’s degrees by 2032. Selected programs will address Arizona’s growing workforce needs by targeting sectors like healthcare, information technology, finance, construction, and artificial intelligence.
Learn how Maricopa Community Colleges is helping close critical workforce gaps across Arizona with the most affordable bachelor’s degrees in the Valley at maricopa.edu.