On Monday, March 17th, Allan Hancock College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo announced a partnership that will bring bachelor's degree programs to Allan Hancock College’s Santa Maria Campus. By 2026, there will be a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration program. By 2028 and 2030, two additional bachelor’s degree programs will be offered. These programs build on the small-cohort Bachelor of Arts in Sociology program that recently launched, and will together accommodate hundreds of students per year. Offerings will also be available at Allan Hancock College’s Lompoc Campus as the partnership expands.
Assemblymember Hart has been a proponent of the effort to bring four-year degree programs to Santa Maria. He advocated to the California Community College and California State University systems, and most recently, introduced legislation that advanced the conversation about making access to a bachelor’s degree a reality for students looking to advance their education while staying rooted in the Santa Maria Valley. Assemblymember Hart commends Allan Hancock College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on achieving this tremendous partnership that will have a generational impact on our region.
Read Assemblymember Hart's comments from the announcement event here:
"It's an honor to be here today as we celebrate a transformative moment for education in Northern Santa Barbara County. This partnership between Allan Hancock College and Cal Poly is about opening doors, expanding opportunities, and empowering students to succeed.
I want to thank President Armstrong and President Walthers for their collaboration to bring this partnership forward. Please know that our community stands behind you. We will be there to make sure that this partnership crosses the finish line.
This collaboration isn't just about adding degree programs—it's about creating new possibilities. By bringing high-quality, affordable bachelor's degrees to the Allan Hancock College campus, we are expanding access to education and ensuring that students can pursue their dreams while staying in their communities.
For many, earning a four-year degree has been out of reach due to financial and geographic barriers. Today, that changes.
With only 15% of Santa Maria residents holding a bachelor's degree, this initiative will broaden access, strengthen our workforce, and uplift our local economy.
With Allan Hancock College being a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution and Cal Poly SLO being an Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution, this program will especially open new doors for Santa Maria's Latino community.
Now, imagine this—just three years from today, we will celebrate our first graduating class. Students, surrounded by family and friends, will walk across the stage, earning degrees that once felt out of reach—right here in their own community.
This is progress. This is opportunity. And this is just the beginning."
