Reports Showcase Successes that make Yavapai College a Premiere Community College in Arizona and the United States    

Prescott, Arizona — Yavapai College released two reports on Tuesday, May 19, highlighting several successful initiatives from the 2025–2026 academic year that earned national recognition and improved the College’s overall performance for the community and students it serves. The reports can be read online at yc.edu/YearInReview. 

The “Public Accountability Report” summarizes the College’s progress in supporting student success, advancing the priorities of the District Governing Board, stewarding public resources, and strengthening institutional performance. The “Year in Review” report highlights successes in areas such as the strategic plan, academic and student affairs, human resources, capital development and facilities, the College’s financial stability, and the Yavapai College Foundation. 

“The top priority of Yavapai College is to continue building on our enormous success in providing students with the best quality higher education in Arizona and the nation, and the reports we released today show that we are once again exceeding these goals, which has a direct impact on the success of our students and community,” said Dr. Lisa Rhine, President of Yavapai College. “A majority of the students who earn certificates and degrees from Yavapai College stay in our community and work in dozens of industries, including automotive technology, robotics, healthcare, and everything in between. I am proud to lead an institution with a highly skilled and dedicated team of faculty and staff who ensure that our graduates continue to make a positive and lasting impact on Yavapai County.” 

The “Public Accountability Report” includes information on the five institutional goals that guide the College’s planning, budgeting, and assessment work: 

• Belonging: Students and employees feel welcomed, valued, and supported.
• Adult Learners:  Accessible classes and support services for working adults.
• Living Wage Jobs:  Programs aligned with employment, workforce, and regional economic needs.
• Flexible Delivery: Classes and services delivered in flexible and innovative ways.
• Foundational Capacity:  Long-term institutional sustainability and operational strength.

“Yavapai College operates on a rolling three-year strategic plan that is updated annually to ensure College leadership, including faculty and staff, work together to advance a unified vision and shared future,” Dr. Rhine said. “This collaborative process drives key decision-making and helps keep the College’s vision and priorities aligned with industry trends. This has a positive impact on our students because it allows the College to develop cutting-edge learning environments, such as the Center for Learning Innovation, which opened on the Prescott campus in February 2026. These continued innovations give Yavapai College graduates a jumpstart in both their education and careers.” 

Highlighted in the “Year in Review” report are advancements in Academic and Student Affairs, which ensure a system of continuous curriculum development that meets and exceeds community and industry needs. In 2021, Gov. Doug Ducey authorized Arizona’s community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees, and Yavapai College became the first rural community college in the state to offer those degrees. 

Yavapai College currently offers bachelor’s degrees in nursing, computer science, and business, including a fully optimized three-year Bachelor of Applied Science in Business — the first program of its kind in the nation. Beginning in the fall 2026 semester, Yavapai College will launch a Bachelor of Design in Visual Design and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety Administration. 

“This year, Yavapai College awarded a record 119 bachelor’s degrees during our 2026 commencement ceremony, and that number will only grow as we continue to add new baccalaureate degree programs,” Dr. Rhine said. 

The “Year in Review” report also highlights the national recognition Yavapai College has received for developing innovative partnerships with community colleges across the United States. Yavapai College announced partnerships with Moraine Park Technical College and Mid-State Technical College, both in Wisconsin, allowing students who complete associate degrees in Wisconsin to transfer to Yavapai College and earn an online bachelor’s degree through the 92-credit optimized degree program. Yavapai College was the first community college in the nation to offer a 92-credit-hour optimized bachelor’s degree that can be completed in three years. 

“These articulation agreements with Moraine Park Technical College and Mid-State Technical College create an innovative model for how institutions can strengthen transfer pathways and improve bachelor’s degree completion,” Dr. Rhine said. “The 92-credit optimized degree is a game-changer that allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree a full year sooner and enter the workforce faster than before.” 

Yavapai College operates seven campuses and centers throughout Yavapai County and offers over 100 degrees and certificates, six baccalaureate degrees, student and community services, and cultural events and activities. To learn more about Yavapai College, visit www.yc.edu.