California is in the final stages of allowing 15 community colleges, including two in the Bay Area, to start offering four-year bachelor's degrees in selected subjects. Supporters say the state's pilot program will give more people access to higher education and provide the state with much needed skilled labor. Critics claim it will increase competition within higher education institutions. The move coincides with President Obama's proposal to offer two years of free community college tuition, which he outlined in his State of the Union address. We look at the potentials and pitfalls of both programs.

• More: A full list of community colleges offering 4 year programs