Cal Poly to Launch New Bachelor’s Degree Offerings at Allan Hancock College
MARCH 17, 2025-- Allan Hancock College and California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo are partnering to significantly expand access to in-person baccalaureate degrees in northern Santa Barbara County.
Beginning in fall 2026, Cal Poly will offer a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Allan Hancock College’s Santa Maria campus, providing local students with access to a high-quality and affordable bachelor's degree. Cal Poly is also committing to launching two additional yet-to-be-named bachelor’s degrees in 2028 and 2030.
The partnership is part of a broader strategy to bring high-demand educational opportunities to the region at scale, addressing local workforce needs while making higher education more accessible to students who may not have the ability to relocate.
“This is a game-changer for students in our region who want to continue their education but face barriers to relocating,” said Allan Hancock College Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “President Armstrong and his team at Cal Poly are really stepping up for students and our local workforce.”
Added Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong: “We are pleased to be able to open the doors to a Cal Poly education for even more residents in our local area. These programs illustrate Cal Poly’s broader commitment to fostering strong partnerships with our nearby community colleges and providing greater opportunity and access to academically qualified local and transfer students.”
These new degree offerings at Hancock are an expansion of Cal Poly’s commitment to northern Santa Barbara County. In fall 2024, the university launched a 25-student cohort for a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at Hancock.
Program Structure
The degrees will be structured specifically for Hancock students seeking to continue their education at Cal Poly. Once students complete an associate degree at Hancock, they can apply for the Cal Poly program as part of a cohort to complete upper-division coursework with Cal Poly professors on the Hancock campus in Santa Maria.
Classes will be held in dedicated spaces on Hancock’s campus. In the long term, both institutions are committed to developing a dedicated university center in Santa Maria.
Once admitted into the Cal Poly program, students will pay the university’s tuition. Cal Poly will provide financial aid and scholarship opportunities, and students can apply for transfer scholarships from the Allan Hancock College Foundation. In addition, Cal Poly is committed to finding additional ways to reduce costs, which may include grants or other ways of accommodating for student fees.
To ensure a seamless experience, both institutions will coordinate closely on student services, with more details to be provided to participating students.
Part of a Larger Vision
The launch of the partnership aligns with Hancock’s ongoing efforts to expand access to baccalaureate education locally, including applying to offer a bachelor’s degree in Applied Professional Studies.
“We’re placing our bachelor’s degree application on hold as we work with Cal Poly on the new program,” says Walthers. “This new partnership should satisfy the need that our proposed program was designed to fill.”
The collaboration comes at a time when legislative efforts, such as Assembly Bill 1462 introduced by Assemblymember Gregg Hart, are working to remove barriers that have historically limited community colleges from offering bachelor’s degrees. As a result of this new and exciting partnership between Hancock and Cal Poly, Hart plans to no longer pursue AB 1462.
Hart noted the importance of serving the region, “I’m very excited about this collaborative new college degree path that will help local students pursue good-paying, in-demand jobs that support the Santa Maria Valley. This collaboration will bring new opportunities for economic mobility to the next generation at home.”
