The system creates value in many ways. The colleges play a key role in helping students increase their employability and achieve their individual potential. The colleges draw students to the state, generating new dollars and opportunities for California. The colleges provide students with the education, training, and skills they need to have fulfilling and prosperous careers. Furthermore, the colleges are places for students to meet new people, increase their self-confidence, and promote their overall health and well-being.
California’s community colleges added $173.0 billion in income to the California economy during the analysis year, equal to the sum of operations and construction spending impacts; the student spending impact; and the alumni impact.
California’s community colleges’ total impact can also be expressed in terms of jobs supported. The $173.0 billion impact supported 1.7 million state jobs, using the jobs-to-sales ratios specific to each industry in the state. This means that one out of every 15 jobs in California is supported by the activities of the colleges and their students.
For every $1...
Dive deeper into the resources below to learn more about the economic value of the California Community Colleges system.
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Executive Summary
California’s community colleges promote economic growth in California through their direct expenditures and the resulting expenditures of students and state businesses. The colleges serve as employers and buyers of goods and services for their day-to-day and construction operations. The colleges’ activities attract students from outside California, whose expenditures benefit state vendors. In addition, the colleges are primary sources of higher education to California residents and suppliers of trained workers to state industries, enhancing overall productivity in the state workforce. -
Main Report
This report assesses the impact of the California Community Colleges on the state economy and the benefits generated by the colleges for students, taxpayers, and society. The results of this study show that California's community colleges creates a positive net impact on the state economy and generates a positive return on investment for students, taxpayers, and society. -
Fact Sheet
The California Community Colleges system creates a significant positive impact on the business community and generates a return on investment to its major stakeholder groups—students, taxpayers, and society. Using a two-pronged approach that involves an economic impact analysis and an investment analysis, this study calculates the benefits received by each of these groups. -
Infographic
A visual representation of California's community colleges, including an economic impact and investment analysis. -
What They’re Saying about the Economic Impact Report
Read what people are saying about the massive economic and social impacts of the California Community Colleges system.
