Prescott, Arizona (May 22, 2025) – Yavapai College is endeavoring to change the traditional dynamics of higher education with a new Optimized 92-credit Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Degree, designed to be completed within three years.
The degree will launch for the upcoming fall 2025 semester, and Yavapai College will be the first community college in the United States to offer a three-year bachelor’s degree.
The BASB is built for depth and application for a more direct learning experience.
The tuition cost for a student to complete the 92-credit Optimized degree is $9,482. I
t is offered 100% online via eight-week courses with no textbook or associated student fees. The same degree at an Arizona University on average is $52,000 for tuition, and when you add in the room and board, the cost rises to an average $115,000.
Traditionally, baccalaureate degrees have a standard minimum of 120 credits or more. Recently, the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), the largest accrediting body in the country, approved reduced-credit bachelor’s degrees, and this provides Yavapai College with the opportunity to create optimized bachelor’s degrees that are more affordable and reduce the completion time for students.
“Yavapai College has set a standard of implementing initiatives, executing strategies, and breaking down barriers that our students and communities are faced with so that we can provide them with the most accessible, affordable educational opportunities possible,” said Dr. Lisa B. Rhine, President of Yavapai College. “This new opportunity to create more affordable bachelor’s degrees while reducing the time to completion will be a game-changer for students. It will allow them to get educated, get their degree, walk across the graduation stage, and impact the workforce a full year sooner than before.”
Yavapai College has been a pioneer among community colleges in Arizona when it comes to baccalaureate degree programs. YC became the first rural community college in Arizona to offer a baccalaureate degree when it launched its Bachelor of Science in Business program in Fall 2023. Since then, YC has also added a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, and plans for future baccalaureate degrees.
In addition to cost and time savings, the optimized 92-credit degree will:
- Align with industry and employers who emphasize skills and experience over credit hours
- Appeal to working adults or learners who want to enter the workforce quicker
- Be beneficial to industries with rapid change
- Align with global trends, three-year bachelor’s degrees are already the norm in Europe and other countries
YC’s existing 120-credit Bachelor of Science in Business Degree is built for breadth of knowledge for a well-rounded learning experience with four different concentrations: accounting, entrepreneurship, organizational management and leadership, and digital marketing. The Optimized 92-credit Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Degree is built for depth and application for a more direct learning experience. The college believes that both degrees can stand alone, and each will have strong interest from students.
Registration for fall 2025 semester classes is open, with the classes starting at the beginning of the fall semester on Mon., Aug. 18. Anyone interested in pursuing the degree should go online to degrees.yc.edu to learn more.
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 YC, visit www.yc.edu.