WCU Provides Cost-Effective Path from Community College to Bachelor’s Degree
The pathway from community college to university is the perfect balance between cost-savings for the student and filling a critical need in the Commonwealth’s workforce development.
West Chester University (WCU) is one of the universities within Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education facilitating this valuable pathway through several tailored programs and agreements. Many of these students are non-traditional, returning to higher education to secure upward mobility in their current fields or to change careers altogether.
WCU student Tyanna Alexander is an example of success and advocacy in making the transition from community college to university.
Before continuing her studies at WCU, Alexander honed her academic and leadership skills at Delaware County Community College, where she pursued paralegal studies while working full-time and taking on leadership roles in campus clubs. She credits her determination and ability to self-advocate for her smooth transition to a more demanding university environment.
“I had a really good community of people to ask questions,” she said. “I’m good at advocating for myself. If I’m not sure about something, I’m going to find the resource and talk to somebody.”
Alexander was named to the All-Pennsylvania Academic Team, which included a scholarship meant to cover expenses for students with an associate degree who want to earn their bachelor's at any PASSHE university. She chose WCU because it felt like home.
Alexander is set to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies, and was chosen as a commencement speaker for her upcoming graduation ceremony.
WCU student Liz Rivera is another excellent example of a student taking control of her education.
A Philadelphia native, Rivera initially struggled with a university environment and instead pursued her certification as a licensed esthetician. The COVID-19 pandemic reignited her passion for public health. She enrolled at Montgomery County Community College, graduating with an associate degree in public health before transferring to WCU in the fall of 2022.
She appreciated the affordability and supportive environment at West Chester University, particularly in the College of Health Sciences.
"My professors are really supportive and have made my transition great," Rivera said. "I love the classes that I’ve taken and the department I’m in."
Once Rivera reached junior status, she applied for the College’s new accelerated Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) to Master of Public Health (MPH) program. She’s set to graduate with her bachelor’s this spring and is already taking and excelling in several graduate level classes — while paying for them at the undergraduate price.
Once she graduates, Rivera hopes to work in maternity health.
“One of my passions is maternity health, specifically Black maternity health and women of color,” she said. “I’d love to work in that realm.”
The benefits of programs like the accelerated public health degree are clear, said WCU Department of Public Health Sciences Chair Jim Brenner.
He has seen students make the most out of the College’s Health Science: General degree. It helps students with prior health-related education from community colleges, or students with certain occupational licenses or certifications, efficiently earn their bachelor's degrees, while also significantly lowering costs and time invested.
“Some students are already working professionals in the field and would like more upward mobility,” he said. “Another example of students who come to us are paramedics who want to get a bachelor’s degree and go on to a physician assistant program.”
No matter where they are in their journey, WCU is ready to meet them, Brenner said.
“We make a commitment to them,” he said. “If they’re going to enroll, we’re going to make sure they get done.”
Erin Knight, a public health assistant professor at WCU and coordinator for the department’s accelerated bachelor's to master's degree program, has seen firsthand the difference the program can make – both to the student and to Pennsylvania’s workforce.
"Any potential investment is going to reap benefits in terms of protecting our communities," Knight, Rivera’s advisor, said. "We need well-trained young people who are committed and passionate. Someone like Liz, who clearly has a strong work ethic and has worked her way up from that community college to where she is now, is the epitome of who we want in the field. Anything we can do to support people like that is an improvement across the state and beyond."
Knight said the economic efficiency of the accelerated program, which allows students to pay undergraduate rates for master's level credits until they complete their bachelor’s degree, is a draw for students eager to maximize their investment in education.
"You’re saving time, you’re saving money,” she said. “It’s a head start on everything."
Programs like these at West Chester University make higher education more accessible and ensure a well-trained, diverse workforce is poised to tackle public health challenges. Investing in such educational pathways is not merely a benefit but a necessity for the future of public health and workforce development, Knight said.