Two Oregon-based institutions recently sealed a partnership in order to offer a bachelor's degree in nursing to students who have graduated from the nearby community college.

Individuals who receive an associate's degree from the two-year school and become licensed can then attend two more years at the larger college to pursue a bachelor's. According to the Statesman Journal, the agreement was a result of an increasing local demand for nurses with four-year degrees.

According to the news source, the community college graduates will have access to the four-year school's curriculum, which develops research and leadership skills.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), nurses with a bachelor's degree typically have more opportunities for advancement. Unlike associate's degree training, four-year schools usually offer more clinical experience for their students.

The BLS reports that medical facilities usually require a bachelor's degree for administrative, research and consulting positions in this field. Many online colleges offer nursing degree programs.