The Brief

In my years reporting on community colleges, I never knew that 29 campuses offer bachelor’s degrees (at the time of writing this).

My goal — as a first-generation Latina student — is to receive a degree at one of the UC schools. But, could my life have been different had I known about these degrees? If I knew there were other opportunities to get a bachelor's degree locally, would I still be a journalist? (I like to think I would.) Along with many others, I felt like I was missing out on what these community colleges provide.

So, I interviewed students and faculty to learn more. This guide contains tips, history, research, and student, faculty, and expert voices.

This guide is for everybody: students, educators, co-workers, and everyone in between.

You never know who might want to start or resume their college journey.

How long have these programs been around?

In 2014, then-Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill that allowed community colleges a few years to try out bachelor degrees programs.

A 2021 assembly bill extended the programs indefinitely and allowed colleges to offer an additional 30 bachelor’s programs per year.

A state bill passed in 2024 even attempted to make these baccalaureate programs free at community colleges, as an extension of the already existing California Promise Program. (Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed it.)

Which colleges offer bachelor's degree programs?

Here's a list of all of them and their websites. But we also made this handy map if you want to glance what's close to you:

How much do these degrees cost? 

California Community Colleges states that a bachelor’s degree costs $10,560. On most of the community college websites, this number is rounded down to $10,000.

The $10,560 number is determined by the sum of 60 units in lower division courses and 60 units in upper divisions. (We're going to explain units in that infobox two paragraphs down from here.) Californians pay $46 a unit for community college courses. This includes those parts of an associate’s degree or general education — or lower divisions. Courses for a bachelor’s degree (upper division courses) cost more: $130 per unit.

Out-of-state students pay more.

Bottom line: Apply for financial aid.

“Honestly, it's weird. I think this hasn't happened before; community colleges offering bachelor's degrees,” said Alison Parrales, a senior in the interaction design program at Santa Monica College. “Because many people, the reason why they don't do it is because, maybe they don't have the time, don't have the money. And community colleges are for people who are like that, basically.”

What should I know before applying?

The application process for the bachelor’s degrees at community colleges, while simpler than UC and CSU applications, still require effort and planning. Some programs can get competitive, as most colleges try to maintain a 25-student cohort size.

(A cohort is what the community colleges call the group of students in the bachelor’s program of that year.)

Research finds that many students who pursue these degrees are already within the community college system, as they build off of pre-existing associates degree programs. But these bachelor’s programs are open for everyone!

So if you’re interested in getting a bachelor’s degree at a community college in California, here are some things to think of ahead of time.

• Look into the program you want to join at least six months to a year before enrolling. 
• Check if you need to provide a portfolio of work, or if you are missing any prerequisite courses.
• Make an appointment with a community college counselor — for new and returning students.

How do new programs get established?

In order for these programs to exist, a community college must submit an application to the California Community College Chancellor’s Office where strict criteria is expected to be met: curriculum, enrollment projections, unmet workforce needs, and the curriculum and program itself that does not duplicate a CSU or UC program — to name a few.

This process is necessary for every community college that applies for a bachelor’s program, and once the program is approved, it then needs to be accredited.

Cecilia Rios-Aguilar is a UCLA Education Professor, and co-author of a research study about Latino experience and success post community college bachelor degree program.

“[Students] end up having jobs, you know, in the field that they're studying,” she said. “That's part of why these programs are created. They have to have that component, even from the application, from the design, they're very thoughtfully and intentionally designed so that students can take advantage of jobs that are available locally.”

Some opponents of these degrees at community colleges claim that they take students from four-year universities. Rios-Aguilar disavows this claim, and argues that the community colleges help to serve Black and Latino students — who historically have low baccalaureate degree rates.

“But they're not serving the same students,” Rios-Aguilar said. “If we had done a good job as a state of serving students, they may be competing. The evidence tells us we are not serving a large portion of Californians, ones who need a baccalaureate degree to achieve that upward economic and social mobility.”

What I do if I'm interested?

If this guide piqued your interest — for you or someone else — here are some next steps to get a bachelor’s degree at a community college.

• Look into the program you are interested in — online or in person. Whether the degree is related to a field of study you are familiar with or not, bachelor programs are available to everybody. Here's a handy list of all the programs. 
• Take a tour. Even if your degree is mostly remote, or just two years, it will allow you to learn about your college and make in-person connections. 
• Book an appointment with a counselor at the college you want to attend! Whether in person or online, counselors are there to help you with the enrollment process. They can let you know what general education courses are needed if you are new to college. They will also fill you in on costs and scholarships unique to the college. 
• Look into financial aid. Even though these degrees are available at a reduced cost compared to universities, it is still a pretty penny. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a great place to start.

Get a copy of our zine

Our newest zine.

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Ross Brenneman

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LAist

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We have a limited number of copies of this story as a 12-page zine. If you work for a community college, an academic enrichment program, or community space in the L.A. area and would like to provide copies for your constituents, please reach out to Ross Brenneman, senior editor for our education team. Please note that supply is limited.

Notice any issues?

There is a lot of information to cover. And there are a lot of programs, and things can change fast. Anything important we missed? Spot any problems? Get in touch.

It looks like the first weekend of August is going to look a lot like most of the month of July: hot and humid.

But the coming heat wave may be especially intense.

Most of Southern California has faced repeated heat advisories over the last few weeks. Ahead of this weekend, though, the National Weather Service has issued more severe extreme heat warnings for almost the entire region. Those will be in effect from 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday evening.

Temperatures are expected to peak on Saturday, when forecasters say highs could get within one or two degrees of daily records.

Parts of the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire will see highs well over 100 degrees. Intermediate areas between the coasts and the valleys, including downtown Los Angeles, will be mostly in the upper 80s to mid-90s. Coasts will be mostly in the 80s.

Humidity continues to add to the discomfort and make it harder to cool down at night.

Forecasters say the highest humidity will be along the coast, as high ocean temperatures drive up the moisture in the air. Those areas could see some dense fog on Friday morning.

The combination of heat and humidity will pose a particularly high risk for people over 65, young children, people who work — or spend a lot of time — outside and those without access to air conditioning.

Officials are warning against leaving children and pets in unattended vehicles. Under such extreme heat, temperatures inside a car can reach lethal levels in a matter of minutes.

Fire weather

Despite the humidity, this weekend’s heat wave is also going to drive up the risk of wildfires.

Inland areas, where the humidity is lower than on the coast, will be most prone to fires. The high temperatures, combined with possible wind, mean any fires that start could have the potential to grow large.

Wind gusts could get up to 45 mph in places, with the strongest expected along the 5 Freeway corridor near the Grapevine and in southwestern Santa Barbara County.

About 90% of California wildfires are sparked by people.

Beachgoers beware

A National Weather Service high surf advisory is in place through Saturday afternoon for all Southern California beaches — from San Diego County through Santa Barbara County, including Catalina and Santa Barbara islands.

Large, breaking waves and strong rip currents are the biggest risk to beachgoers, with the most dangerous conditions on south-facing beaches. Rip currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Large waves can cause injury, wash people off rocks and capsize small boats.

Forecasters recommend staying out of the water, if possible. If you do go swimming, stay near lifeguards, heed their advice and stay off of tidal rocks and jetties.

The heatwave is also adding to the risk as it will likely drive more people to the beach, potentially putting them in harm's way.

Forecasters also issued a coastal flooding advisory that will be in effect through much of Saturday for the SoCal coastline and Channel Islands.

Flooding is likely around high tide. It could affect low-lying areas of beaches, walkways and parking lots, but significant damage to roads or structures is not expected.

The highest tides will likely be tonight, coinciding with the peak of a storm swell from Hurricane Genevieve, which has been whirling hundreds of miles off the coast of Mexico since it formed last week.

Genevieve, along with swells from other Pacific storms, are also responsible for the waves and rip currents.

Olivia Rodrigo’s upcoming Daisy Chain Fields festival in Irvine sold out brutally fast. If you missed out on tickets, you’re in luck.

The “Driver’s License” artist has partnered with the nonprofit L.A. Works to give Livies a chance at experiencing the all-woman lineup on Aug. 29. The organization is giving out 125 pairs of tickets — with a catch.

How the giveaway works

L.A. Works is determining who gets the general admission tickets through a “volunteer drive” called Daisy Chain Reaction. The drive’s events are focused on supporting women and girls in Southern California.

For a chance to win, your first step is to sign up to volunteer with L.A. Works. Then, the drive has to hit a collective hours goal for the giveaway to be “unlocked.” Between now and 7 p.m. Aug. 20, volunteers need to log at least 1,000 verified hours.

Each participant gets entered into the giveaway based on how many verified hours they volunteered. One hour counts as one entry (no maximum), so the more you volunteer, the higher your chances.

The winners will be picked through a random drawing, and you’ll be contacted via email if you get a pair. To be eligible you must:

• Be at least 18 years old at the time of winning
• Have an active L.A. Works account in good standing
• Opt in to the giveaway when registering for an eligible Daisy Chain Reaction volunteer opportunity
• Be a resident of the U.S.

Where to volunteer

The volunteer opportunities are based in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Some may have a waitlist.

Currently, there are 16 events (many of them recurring) spread out across L.A. County. That includes serving breakfast near MacArthur Park, helping with soil restoration in Altadena and passing out back-to-school backpacks in Montebello.

On the other hand, Orange County currently has just three on the roster. That includes packing food in Irvine and helping out at a STEM event for middle-school girls in Santa Ana. L.A. Works says it’s trying to add more O.C. events.

You can find all of the volunteer opportunities here — just make sure the one you pick has “DCR” in the title or mentions the giveaway in the description.

If you sign up, make sure you can attend. Participants who no-show more than one day will be disqualified from the giveaway.

Americans almost universally prefer cars with automatic transmissions, leading to a slow decline of manual car sales in the states. Less than 1% of new cars made for sale in the U.S. last year were stick shifts, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's latest motor trends report, an all-time low.

But that doesn’t mean people aren't still driving them — or at least reminiscing over the times they did.

Americans are keeping and driving older cars for longer than ever according to the Wall Stree Journal, and teens regularly learn to drive on the family beater. On a recent episode of LAist 89.3’s talk news program AirTalk, listeners shared what it is about driving a manual transmission that’s so enticing, and why they continue to.

Keeping the tradition going

Anna in Highland Park called in and said she learned to drive stick from her father in the ‘90s, and only made the switch from her manual 2007 Toyota Yaris to an automatic a few years ago. But she didn’t part with the old wheels.

“I just taught my 16-year-old daughter to drive it," she said. “Of course she didn’t when I first tried to make her learn it, but she loves it now.”

Dennis Chernyukhin, who gives stick-shift lessons to people in California through his company SHIFTR, said that a big share of his students are teenagers who sign up in order to learn on a family car.

"The parents are nostalgic about how they learned to drive when they were younger, and so they want to pass on that skill,” he said.

Terrifying lessons, lasting love

 ”We got to a red light, and my dad just got out of the car, looked at me and said, ‘Good luck, son. You're ready to go.’ He shut the door, and the light turned green, and there I was,” Jared in Silverlake said. “I was so scared, but I put it in first, I was off.”

The lesson stuck with Jared, and over time he developed a skill of listening for when to shift gears and get the best gas mileage. He drives an automatic car now, but still drives with only one hand saying, “that’s how I learned with stick.”

Feeling connected to the machine

Across the board, callers said driving a manual transmission makes them feel more in tune with the car.

Terry in Studio City said he learned to drive stick when he was 15, and now at 73, he still has never bought a car with an automatic transmission. He drives a 2003 Toyota Tacoma. People often approach him offering to buy the truck. He shoots down their offers every time.

“You’re just connected to the car," echoed John in Hancock Park. "I learned how to drive stick shift when I was 15 on my dad’s old Saab, and there’s just nothing better.”

Saving a buck on a trip abroad

Across Europe, stick shifts are more common, with about 29% of new cars sold with manual transmissions across the big five countries there, according to automotive data company JATO. They're also notably cheaper to rent than their automatic cousins, Booking.com notes.

But back before their wider adoption in Europe, automatic cars were a rarity — a lesson Mary from Indio learned after her father taught her and her sister how to drive stick.

“ We went to Europe and wanted to drive through Europe,” she said. “You couldn't even get an automatic. And so we drove through France, Italy, and Switzerland for 16 days with an Audi stick shift."

Is the end nigh for stick shifts?

Looking at trendlines, it may seem like stick shifts are soon to be a thing of the past. But Chernyukhin said that the teaching biz is pretty good, for a seemingly paradoxical reason.

“What we’ve seen is that as the skill becomes more rare, the demand increases correspondingly,” he said. “There’s no comparable experience to having a clutch pedal and a shifter and fully controlling the car.”

Listen to the full AirTalk conversation below to hear about the niche jobs that still require you to know how to drive stick.

Long Beach is hoping to help keep older residents from falling into homelessness with a new program that offers them limited rental subsidies of $400 to $500 a month.

The money, available through the Older Adult Shallow Subsidy program, is meant to temporarily reduce the burden of rent while people pursue long-term solutions, like affordable housing.

The program is for households that include at least one older adult, defined as anyone age 62 or older, or age 55 or older with a disability.

To qualify, applicants must:

• live in non-subsidized rental housing in Long Beach
• be experiencing severe rent burden (spending 70% or more of income on rent)
• demonstrate the ability to pay rent consistently with shallow subsidy assistance
• have a household income at or below 50% of the Area Median Income (That’s $58,300 for a household of one, up to $110,000 for a household of eight.)

Eligible renters may receive up to $12,000 over two years, with additional support available in extenuating circumstances.

If deemed eligible, participants will also receive light-touch case management, which includes quarterly check-ins and connection to supportive services.

How to apply

Applications are available in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog here. They will remain open until all subsidy slots are filled. You can also apply in person Monday through Thursday at the Multi-Service Center or Mondays and Wednesdays at the Long Beach Senior Center.

The program will prioritize households whose existing rental assistance or housing subsidy has expired or is scheduled to expire within the next 60 days. Those include households that received vouchers, were in the rapid rehousing program, homelessness prevention program or other rental assistance programs where financial support is ending.

Other factors that could lead to an application being prioritized include urgency of eviction risk, disabling conditions, fixed-income status and prior experiences of homelessness.

The program is funded with $1.8 million from a mix of state funding secured by Sen. Lena Gonzalez, the Los Angeles County Measure A sales tax and state grant funding.

Why older adults?

Even as Long Beach has increased spending on homelessness outreach and housing services, it hasn’t been able to keep pace with the number of people falling into homelessness.

This year, 12.4% of people tallied in the annual homeless count reported they were newly homeless, up from 10.9% last year.

This year’s count also found an increase in the number of residents over 55 who were experiencing homelessness (1,096 this year compared to 1,023 last year).

“Older adults living on fixed incomes are increasingly vulnerable to housing instability as rents continue to rise across the region,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement.

Other options for rental subsidies

The program is part of Upstream LB, a three-pronged city initiative announced last year aimed at preventing housing instability.

In April, the city launched its first Renter Aid Program to provide short-term rental assistance for about 250 households.

Thus far, city officials say the Renter Aid program has received more than 3,500 applications and about 50 households have been enrolled.

A separate program targeting Long Beach residents ages 18-25 who are at high risk of homelessness was originally scheduled to launch in July but hasn’t yet started. It aims to help about 50 people in its first year with a budget of $750,000.

The post Long Beach starts offering rental subsidies to older adults. Here’s how to apply. appeared first on LA Local.