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IOWA CITY — The state of Iowa has the need and opportunity to start offering four-year bachelor’s degrees at its 15 community colleges — and could start doing so by 2028, according to a study lawmakers commissioned over the summer.

“Workforce shortages, regional educational deserts, and affordability barriers are leaving too many Iowans without pathways to high-demand careers,” according to the final study report made public Thursday by Community Colleges for Iowa, a nonprofit advocacy association for the state’s independent public community colleges.

Citing lessons from the 24 U.S. states allowing community and technical colleges to confer bachelor’s degrees, the report found reason to expec

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