August 05, 2025
Contact: Melissa Villarin
Office: 916-327-5365
Office E-mail: MVillarin@CCCCO.edu
Report amplifies refined Vision 2030 strategy centered on access – specifically bringing college to Californians.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Powering nearly 1.7 million jobs and contributing $173 billion last fiscal year, California's community colleges account for approximately 5% of California’s total gross state product, a new study reveals. The data reinforces that California's community colleges are an investment fueling the state’s economic engine and creating meaningful impact in the lives of millions, every single day.
“The California Community Colleges system is leading the way on opening doors of opportunity for Californians from all walks of life. This week’s release of our Economic Impact Report further demonstrates the ways in which our colleges are innovating to provide learners of all ages with access to state-of-the-art educational opportunities at the lowest tuition rate in the country. The California Dream, as it has been for years, is fueled by our outstanding community colleges,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Sonya Christian.
The Economic Value of the California Community Colleges System report examined a wide range of factors such as payroll, job creation, and alumni’s improved standard of living. According to findings, for every $1 invested in the community colleges, students gain more than $13 in earnings, taxpayers gain just under $2 in added tax revenue, and society gains $14 in added income and social savings.
Among the report’s other significant findings:
- The activities of the colleges and their students support nearly 1.7 million jobs – that’s 1 out of every 15 jobs in California.
- Payroll for the 83,000 full-time and part-time faculty and staff across 116 colleges amounted to $8.9 billion, with colleges spending an additional $5.3 billion on day-to-day expenses. This initial round of spending creates more spending across other businesses throughout the state economy through what is commonly known as the multiplier effect.
- California community college students who graduate with an associate degree earn $11,300 more each year, or just under $486,000 over a working lifetime, compared to those with high school diplomas working in California.
- The increased earnings of California community colleges alumni and the businesses they work for amounted to $156.5 billion, an economic boost similar to hosting the Superbowl 441 times.
“The findings in this report affirm that investing in an education from the California Community Colleges is investing in a stronger, more equitable economy,” said California Community Colleges Board of Governors President Hildegarde B. Aguinaldo. “Our expansive system of 116 colleges allows us to provide opportunities where learners live and work. Our graduates gain the skills to earn more and live better, which in turn strengthens families, fuels local economies, and delivers lasting value to taxpayers."
The report’s release follows the recent approval, by the Board of Governors, of the system’s refined strategic plan, Vision 2030 – The July 2025 Edition. The updated approach builds on the original framework launched in 2023, reflects lessons learned from the past two years, and addresses emerging statewide and economic challenges. The refreshed workplan challenges community college “access” by bringing college to more Californians, engages in generative artificial intelligence to reshape how students learn, and builds pathways to a green economy and curricula that prepare college graduates to care for the planet. The Economic Impact Report underscores the importance of the Vision 2030 – The July 2025 Edition.
“The 2025 update to our Vision 2030 workplan calls on us to double down on our efforts to bring higher education and workforce training to students everywhere, ensuring that they will be prepared to seek high-wage jobs and careers in our changing economy,” said Christian.
The full Economic Value of the California Community Colleges System report can be found on the Chancellor’s Office website. The study was conducted by Lightcast and was based on numerous sources, including academic and financial reports from California’s community colleges, industry and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau, and a variety of studies and surveys related to social behavior.
The Vision 2030 – The July 2025 Edition report can also be found on the Chancellor’s Office website.
The California Community Colleges is the largest system of higher education in the nation, composed of 73 districts and 116 colleges serving 2.1 million students per year. California community colleges provide career education and workforce training; guaranteed transfer to four-year universities; and degree and certificate pathways. As the state’s engine for social and economic mobility, the California Community Colleges supports the Vision 2030, a strategic plan designed to improve student success, our communities and our planet. For more information, please visit the California Community Colleges website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
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