ROCHESTER, Minn. — Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) will offer a new Liberal Arts associate Z Degree starting in January 2026.

Z Degrees provide students with all required course materials at no cost, significantly reducing college expenses by eliminating the need for traditional textbooks. These programs use open educational resources, open textbooks, and library-curated materials.

RCTC joins eleven other Minnesota State Colleges and Universities in offering Z Degree options. According to the 2025 Z Degree Report to the Legislature, these programs have already saved students $12.6 million in textbook costs statewide.

To qualify as a Z Degree course, instructors cannot require students to purchase course resources. Optional or supplemental materials with costs may be s

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