Community Colleges offer Bachelor's degrees in Biomanufacturing

A recent Forbes article found that 25 U.S. states allow community colleges to offer bachelor's degrees---as long as they met a concrete need and did not compete with the state 4 -year colleges. This alternative avenue to a 4-year degree is helping community colleges play a key role in meeting biotechnology's labor shortage in the field of biomanufacturing. The 4-year degree meets the stated need by local employers for manufacturing workers who have a stronger theoretical understanding of biomanufacturing.

MiraCosta College started offering the first community college biomanufacturing 4-year degree in 2014. Theirs is an impressive story. Over a hundred graduates have been hired by sixty local biotech employers.

Solano Community College offers a Bachelors in biomanufacturing as well.  The college has become so well recognized that the city of Vacaville has designated that January 25th be known as Jim DeKloe Day.

Moorpark Community College will soon be offering bachelors degrees in biomanufacturing as well, starting in fall 2024. 

In September President Biden signed an Executive Order to launch a National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative which is giving a huge boost to the field. These are exciting developments, and a great time to be in biotech!

Forbes article written by Shalin Jyotishi, epublished 11/10/22, 9:36am EST.