Scottsdale Community College (SCC) has launched the Bridge2Bachelor’s program, a new initiative that creates clear, intentional pathways from SCC’s hands-on workforce programs to a bachelor’s degree. The program expands SCC’s growing bachelor’s ecosystem following the overwhelming success of its regionally accredited Bachelor of Business Administration – Management (BBA), which welcomed 520 students in its inaugural fall 2025 cohort.

Bridge2Bachelor’s helps students build on the skills and passions they develop in SCC’s workforce programs and continue seamlessly into advanced business and leadership training. With individualized advising, personalized course mapping, wraparound support, and affordable tuition, the program is designed to help students move from “I love doing this” to “I can build a future with this.”

“Bridge2Bachelor’s represents the heart of who we are as a college: a place where students can discover what they love, build real skills, and then take the next step with confidence. This program creates a direct line from passion to profession, and we’re proud to offer a pathway that’s both affordable and accessible,” SCC President Eric Leshinskie, said.

For students like Savannah Steinman, owner of Signature Styles hair salon in Queen Creek, the connection between workforce training and business education is immediate. Savannah opened her salon in January 2025 and has already expanded into a larger space, hiring five stylists along the way. She enrolled in SCC’s BBA program to develop the management, financial and leadership skills that align with the growth of her business.

“When I started doing hair, I realized I could make a business out of it,” she said. “The BBA gives me the background knowledge I need to run and grow my company.”

Her experience reflects exactly what Bridge2Bachelor’s is built for: students who already have a craft, passion or trade and want the business training to take it further.

The Bridge2Bachelor’s initiative is very affordable, supported by SCC’s low tuition. The total cost of completing both the workforce associate degree and the bachelor’s degree is under $15,000 (excluding books and fees), significantly less than the cost of a 4-year university, making it a smart investment with a strong potential for return on one’s educational and career goals.

Students begin by completing an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in their chosen workforce development field, providing a stackable credential that supports immediate career advancement. Upon successful completion, the AAS credits seamlessly roll over toward the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). Students then complete the remaining required coursework to earn the bachelor’s degree. This stackable degree pathway allows students to build on their education while progressing toward higher credentials.

Hospitality management and culinary arts are two of the first signature occupational programs to integrate with the new Bridge2Bachelor’s pathways, reflecting the strength of these industries in Scottsdale’s economy and beyond. SCC’s hospitality management program provides both the interpersonal skills that drive hospitality and the business acumen that opens doors to management, entrepreneurship and beyond. Through Bridge2Bachelor’s, students can move directly into advanced coursework that gives graduates a competitive edge in Scottsdale’s thriving tourism and resort industry.

SCC’s culinary arts and commercial baking and pastry programs offer industry-recognized training in culinary techniques, safety and sanitation, food service management, professionalism and ethics, teamwork, and communication. With the Bridge2Bachelor’s pathway, students now build on those skills with upper-level training in business strategy, team leadership and management. The combination helps students advance to leadership roles in restaurants, hospitality groups, catering companies, and food service enterprises across Arizona’s expanding culinary scene.

In addition to hospitality and culinary arts, the Bridge2Bachelor’s initiative will be creating intentional pathways from the following program areas into the BBA or university transfer options: architectural technology, business, data analytics, equine science, and interior design. Each pathway is structured to help students complete both degrees in as little as four years, supported by SCC’s small class sizes and student-centered advising teams.

The launch of Bridge2Bachelor’s reflects SCC’s commitment to expanding accessible bachelor’s degree options that meet the needs of the region’s workforce. As more industries seek leaders who understand both the technical and business sides of their fields, SCC is creating a model that empowers students to advance without taking on heavy debt or leaving the supportive environment they started in.

This article was originally published here.