Local Community Colleges Generate $6.6 Billion for State, Study Says

A study has found that every year the nine community colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties contribute $6.6 billion to the state’s income, provide thousands of jobs, and help graduates increase their earning power.

Economic Modeling Specialist Inc. preformed the study, analyzing both the real costs of college operations, like payroll and buying supplies — and the economic benefits to students.

Accoding to a news release from the San Diego and Imperial Counties Community College Association (SDICCCA), the study found that over their lifetime, students receive $5.60 for every dollar they invest in their community college education. That’s equivalent to an investment return of 17.4 percent.

The study also showed that students who graduate from a community college in San Diego or Imperial counties earn an average of $14,200 more per year over the course of their working lifetimes. That translated into $6 billion in added income for the state in 2010-11 due to higher earnings of community college graduates, more tax revenue from these earnings and increased business output.

The results of the study will be presented today at a Sacramento legislative summit with seven of the area’s state senators and assembly members. The legislators will be meeting in the state Capitol with members of the boards of trustees and leaders of the colleges and districts representing SDICCCA. During that summit, legislators will be asked to support Governor Jerry Brown’s budget and proposed tax initiative that will help protect community colleges from more budget cuts. 

The state legislators who have confirmed attendance at the Jan. 30 legislative summit are:

• Assemblymember Marty Block, San Diego, chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee
• Assemblymember Brian Jones, Santee
• Assemblymember Manuel Perez, Coachella
• Senator Joel Anderson, La Mesa
• Senator Christine Kehoe, San Diego
• Senator Juan Vargas, San Diego
• Senator Mark Wyland, Solana Beach

This study of SDICCCA's economic impact includes: Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District (Grossmont College and Cuyamaca College); Imperial Community College District (Imperial Valley College); MiraCosta Community College District (MiraCosta College); Palomar Community College District (Palomar College); San Diego Community College District (San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College and San Diego Miramar College); and Southwestern Community College District (Southwestern College)

The entire study can be viewed online.