Image: K-State and Dodge City Community College are teaming up to expand affordable bachelor’s degree pathways for southwest Kansas students/Image courtesy K-State

A new partnership between Dodge City Community College and Kansas State University is expanding access to bachelor’s degree programs for students in Dodge City and southwest Kansas. The collaboration combines the local reach of a community college with the resources of a four-year university, giving students the chance to earn degrees in agriculture and education without leaving their region.

Students will complete the first 60 to 75 credit hours of their degree at Dodge City Community College. They can then stay in their hometown to finish their bachelor’s degrees through K-State courses delivered remotely, paired with on-site lab experiences. This model offers flexibility while aligning with workforce needs in agriculture, education, and health and human sciences.

K-State leaders say the initiative reflects the university’s mission to serve all 105 Kansas counties and to close the access gap between two- and four-year institutions. As the partnership develops, both schools will explore adding new programs based on community input and industry demand, while K-State transfer navigators will help guide students through the process.

This approach mirrors a similar collaboration underway with Garden City Community College.