Pacific Admissions GroupOnline bachelor's degree options for California community college students
If you want to finish a bachelor's degree 100% online after community college, your main options are CSU online degree-completion programs, out-of-state public universities such as Arizona State University Online, and accredited online universities such as Western Governors University. The University of California does not offer fully online bachelor's degrees, because UC requires some in-person coursework.
University of California: no fully online bachelor's
In 2023, the UC Academic Senate added a "campus experience requirement": every UC undergraduate must take at least 6 in-person units per term for 3 quarters or 2 semesters (UC Academic Senate). In practice, that rules out a 100% online UC degree.
CSU online degree-completion programs
The CSU lists its fully online programs on Cal State Online, including a section for transfer and degree-completion students. Most of these programs run through a campus's extension or global campus and charge per unit. Examples, with costs as published in October 2026:
| Campus and program | Key admission requirements | Cost per unit |
|---|---|---|
| San José State, BS Business Administration | 60 transferable units, Golden Four with C- or better, 2.0 GPA, business prep or an AS-T in Business Administration | $575 |
| San Diego State, BS Business Administration | 60 transferable units, 30 units of GE including the Golden Four, 2.75 GPA, 27 units of business prep | $615 |
| Cal State Fullerton, BA Business Administration | 60 units including 21 lower-division business units, 2.5 GPA, Golden Four | $500 |
| CSU San Bernardino, BA Applied Business | Designed for working adults and transfer students; up to 70 transfer units; no lower-division business prerequisites | See program |
Cal State Online also lists online business degrees at CSU East Bay, San Francisco State, Sonoma State and CSU San Marcos, plus programs outside business. The general CSU transfer minimum is 60 semester (90 quarter) transferable units, a 2.0 GPA and the "Golden Four" (oral communication, written composition, critical thinking and quantitative reasoning) with a C- or better (CSU). Individual programs can require more.
Arizona State University Online
- ASU accepts transfer credit from regionally accredited colleges, including California community colleges, for courses with a C- or higher. Up to 64 credits from community colleges can count toward an ASU degree (ASU Online).
- Its MyPath2ASU program builds a course-by-course transfer plan and guarantees admission if you meet its terms, such as an associate degree with a 2.00 GPA. Some majors have extra requirements.
- For fall 2026, ASU Online tuition for out-of-state students is $580 per credit hour, plus a college fee of $22–$140 per credit and some flat fees (ASU catalog).
Other accredited online options
- Western Governors University (WGU). Accredited by NWCCU. WGU has transfer pathways for each California community college, and students with an associate degree usually start with upper-division standing. Tuition is a flat rate per six-month term rather than per unit.
- Oregon State University Ecampus. Accepts several California community college transfer degrees and reviews other credit course by course (OSU Ecampus).
How to check that your units will transfer
- CSU and UC: use ASSIST.org, the official course transfer database for California's public universities. It also covers some California private universities.
- Out-of-state and online schools: ASSIST doesn't cover them. Use each school's own tool, such as ASU's transfer guide or MyPath2ASU, and get a credit evaluation in writing before you enroll.
- Accreditation: confirm any school in the U.S. Department of Education's accreditation database before you apply.
How to choose
- Start with your career goal. Some careers and graduate programs care more about the specific school or degree than others.
- Compare total cost, not just cost per unit. Multiply by the units you still need, and check which fees apply.
- Count how many of your units transfer. A cheaper program that accepts fewer units can cost more in the end.
- Check the format. Asynchronous programs fit around a full-time job; some online programs have live class times.
Costs and requirements change often. Confirm them with each school before applying. Information as of October 2026.
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