By Dr. Jose Fierro
A college degree or certificate is a proven pathway to higher earnings, job stability, and economic mobility. Yet, nearly half of California’s adults have not pursued higher education due to barriers like cost, rigid schedules, and a lack of local options.
California set an ambitious goal: by 2030, 70 percent of working-age adults should hold a college degree or certificate. However, instead of making it easier to achieve this, public universities are blocking one of the most promising solutions – community college bachelor’s degree programs.
Cerritos College is leading the way with its first-of-its-kind Field Ironworker Supervisor (FIS) bachelor’s degree, which was developed with the California Field Ironworkers. The program creates a direct path from apprenticeship to high-paying supervisory roles. Designed for working professionals, it offers flexible online coursework that fits the schedules of full-time ironworkers.
With over 1,300 supervisor job openings annually in Los Angeles County alone, this program helps close critical workforce gaps while fostering regional social and economic mobility. First-line supervisors with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $34,000 more in their annual salary than those with a high school diploma or associate degree. At under $11,000 in total tuition costs – less than half the price of even the most affordable public universities, our students can recoup their investment in as little as four months, making this program a powerful tool for upward mobility.
Beyond the numbers, programs like these change lives. Rocio Campos, an ironworker and mother, defied societal expectations to pursue a career in construction. While balancing work, family, and education, Rocio gained the training and resources to grow her career in ironworks through the field ironworker apprenticeship program at Cerritos College. She aims to earn a bachelor’s degree in Ironworker Supervision once the program receives full approval, giving her a chance to advance into a supervisory role.
Community college bachelor’s degrees are game changers, especially for underrepresented communities. At Cerritos College, 73 percent of students in the Ironworker Apprenticeship program come from minority backgrounds, and active recruitment efforts are bringing more women into this historically male-dominated field. These programs don’t just increase wages; they provide economic mobility, helping workers build stability, advance their careers, and lift their families into greater financial security.
Several community colleges have received provisional approval to launch bachelor’s degree programs in healthcare, technology, and public safety – fields where California urgently needs skilled professionals. However, many of these proposals received objections from public universities, particularly within the CSU system, and remain under review. Despite meeting workforce demands and serving students who might not otherwise pursue a four-year degree, these programs face unnecessary roadblocks. The final approval ultimately rests with the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, but these initiatives risk being delayed indefinitely without broader policy support.
California cannot rely on universities alone to meet its growing workforce needs. Expanding community college bachelor’s degree programs will strengthen industries, create more opportunities, and solidify California’s leadership in workforce innovation. It’s time for policymakers, industry leaders, and educators to support these programs and invest in the future of our state.
Dr. Jose Fierro is the president/superintendent of Cerritos College in Norwalk, California.
