Tuesday, May 8, 2012

NEW STUDY SHOWS COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN THE COLORADO COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM CONTRIBUTE $3.01 BILLION TO THE STATE AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES - NORTHEASTERN JUNIOR COLLEGE CONTRIBUTES $107.691 MILLION TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY

***Press Release***


DENVER – Today, Dr. Nancy McCallin, president of the Colorado Community College System released a study detailing the economic impact the Colorado Community College System’s 13 colleges have on their local communities and on the state as a whole.

This study documents the vital role community colleges play in the economic future of Colorado and in the lives of the 162,000 students they enroll.  Highlights of the study found that the state-wide, total economic impact of the 13 colleges in the Colorado Community College System is $3.01 billion annually.  This number represents the higher earnings that students earn, as a result of the education they receive from a community college and the increased output of businesses because of the highly trained workforce from the Colorado Community College System.  In addition, for every $1 students invest in their education within the Colorado Community College System, on average, they see an increase of $3.10 in their working careers.  On an annual basis, after adjusting for inflation, students receive an 11% rate of return on the money they invested in their community college education.   State and local governments will see, on average in today’s dollars, a rate of return of 5.9%, as a result of their investment in the 13 colleges in the Colorado Community College System.

“The results of this study clearly demonstrate the value of community colleges to the students, the taxpayers, and businesses in Colorado.  As our students earn their higher education, they become more employable,  they are paid better, and can then afford to invest in the kinds of products and services to improve their lives,” said McCallin.  “Additionally, businesses benefit by having higher skilled employees, thus enabling them to grow, hire more employees, and strengthen the economy.

“We are pleased that the results of the study show that community colleges are a wise investment of taxpayer and student money because the return is substantial,” she added.  “There is the added benefit of community colleges offering educational opportunities for individuals who otherwise might not have them because of our affordability, accessibility, and flexibility.”

At Northeastern Junior College, the total economic impact was $107.691million.  For students, for every $1 they invest, on average, they see an increase of $3.70 in their working careers.  On an annual basis, after adjusting for inflation, students receive a rate of return of 13.3% on the money they invested in their community college education.  State and local governments see, on average in today’s dollars, a rate of return of 6.9%.

“Even though I am relatively new to Colorado, it has been very obvious to me that Northeastern Junior College has an important and significant economic presence in this part of the state” said Jay Lee, President of Northeastern Junior College. He began his tenure as president of the state’s largest residential two year college this past March. “The results of this study confirms the college’s role in being an economic engine in northeastern Colorado. It’s a responsibility that those of us who work for NJC do not take lightly. What we do and how successful we are impacts this whole corner of the state and  we will strive to maintain this level of success for the region

The study was done by Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc. (EMSI).  EMSI is a professional service firm that provides economic consulting to colleges. Since 2000, EMSI has produced over 1,100 economic impact studies for many of the community colleges in the U.S. 

The Colorado Community College System comprises the state's largest system of higher education, serving more than 162,000 students annually. CCCS oversees career and academic programs in the 13 state community colleges and career and technical programs in more than 160 school districts and six other post-secondary institutions.    The colleges in the Colorado Community College System are Arapahoe Community College, Colorado Northwestern Community College, Community College of Aurora, Community College of Denver, Front Range Community College, Lamar Community College, Morgan Community College, Northeastern Junior College, Otero Junior College, Pikes Peak Community College, Pueblo Community College, Red Rocks Community College, and Trinidad State Junior College.

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