AN ACT PERMITTING NINETY-CREDIT DEGREE PROGRAMS AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATE.

Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee
Last action: 2026-03-06
Official status: Public Hearing 03/10
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Allowing Shorter Degree Programs

This act allows colleges and universities in the state to offer degree programs that can be completed with ninety credits.

What This Bill Does

Allows schools to create new degree programs where students need only complete ninety credit hours.
Requires these programs to have accreditation recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Gives the Office of Higher Education the power to review and approve applications for these new programs.

Who It Names or Affects

Colleges and universities in the state
Students who might want to complete degree programs with ninety credits

Terms To Know

Accreditation: Official approval that a school or program meets certain standards.
Office of Higher Education: The agency responsible for overseeing and approving higher education programs in the state.

Limits and Unknowns

It is not clear how many schools will offer these shorter degree programs.
The exact details of the review process by the Office of Higher Education are not specified.

Bill History

2026-03-06 Connecticut General Assembly
Public Hearing 03/10
2026-03-03 Connecticut General Assembly
Referred to Joint Committee on Higher Education and Employment Advancement

Official Summary Text

To permit ninety-credit degree programs at institutions of higher education.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

LCO No. 2037 1 of 2

General Assembly Raised Bill No. 396
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 2037

Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND
EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT

Introduced by:
(HED)

AN ACT PERMITTING NINETY-CREDIT DEGREE PROGRAMS AT
INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 10a-34 of the general statutes is amended by adding 1
subsection (m) as follows (Effective July 1, 2026): 2
(NEW) (m) The Office of Higher Education shall permit institutions 3
of higher education in the state to submit an application for a new 4
degree program through which a degree may be earned after the 5
completion of not fewer than ninety credit hours, provided such 6
program has accreditation recognized by the Secretary of the United 7
States Department of Education. The office shall conduct a review of 8
each application submitted under this subsection pursuant to the 9
provisions of this section, including, but not limited to, a focused or on-10
site review, when necessary. 11
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Raised Bill No. 396

LCO No. 2037 2 of 2

Section 1 July 1, 2026 10a-34(m)

Statement of Purpose:
To permit ninety -credit degree programs at institutions of higher
education.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]