Prescott, Arizona (Feb. 10, 2026) – Yavapai College and Moraine Park Technical College in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin are celebrating a first-of-its kind partnership. Together, they are the first two-year institutions in the nation to offer a three-year, 92-credit, optimized degree, Bachelor of Applied Science in Business (BASB).
“This articulation agreement with Moraine Park Technical College represents an innovative model for how institutions can strengthen transfer pathways and improve bachelor’s degree completion,” Yavapai College President, Dr. Lisa Rhine said. “By aligning programs and expectations, we are ensuring students can transition smoothly into Yavapai College’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Business and graduate with confidence and clarity.”
Launched in fall 2025, Yavapai College became the first community college in the nation to be approved for a three-year, reduced credit baccalaureate degree. Moraine Park’s Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Fred Rice, learned of the opportunity and immediately made connection with leaders at Yavapai College.
“We have been ready and waiting for the right opportunity to partner with an institution that offers our students a clear and easy pathway to achieving a reduced-credit bachelor’s degree,” Dr. Rice said. “We quickly learned that our institutions have a lot of similarities–in addition to being a top-ranked college in Arizona, they understand the unique needs of two-year college students. It’s clearly a win-win, and we are excited to offer a three-year baccalaureate degree.”
Starting April 1, students can enroll at Moraine Park in the Associate of Arts (AA) program, where they will complete a two-year associate degree with a business focus. After graduating, students can seamlessly transfer to Yavapai College to complete their BASB fully online in eight-week courses. The 92-credit optimized degree structure is intended to help students complete a high-quality bachelor’s credential in less time than traditional pathways, while maintaining strong academic expectations and career-relevant learning outcomes.
Yavapai College understands the need for access to affordable education. Like Moraine Park, they work to ensure tuition remains affordable for learners at any age. In addition to shared priorities around student success and workforce development, Moraine Park and Yavapai College have a unique connection—Dr. Marylou Mercado, Yavapai College’s Vice President of Workforce Development and Health Sciences, worked at Moraine Park Technical College from 2002 to 2018 and served as Associate Dean of Health Sciences from 2013 to 2018.
“Having served both Moraine Park and Yavapai College, I know how deeply each institution cares about its students,” Dr. Mercado said. “This partnership reflects a shared commitment to creating clear, supportive pathways that help learners move forward with confidence. When colleges work together with students at the center, truly transformative opportunities emerge.”
“This partnership reduces one of the biggest barriers in higher education: transfer uncertainty,” Yavapai College Provost and Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Doug Berry said. “By aligning coursework and expectations, we’re giving students a reliable route to bachelor’s completion, without the credit loss and confusion that too often slows progress. We’re proud to partner with Moraine Park on a model that can influence how colleges nationwide think about transfer, completion, and affordability.”
Together, Yavapai College and Moraine Park are not only spearheading many firsts in the two-year college realm, but they are also paving the way for students for years to come.
Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over 100 degrees and certificates, four baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about Yavapai College, visit www.yc.edu.
