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Regional Impact of Community Colleges’ spending,
Texas Community Colleges
Central Texas Region
Created to expand Texans’ access to higher education, the state’s 50 community college districts serve a vital role in our state’s economy by developing our workforce, preparing students for further academic study and meeting the specific educational and vocational needs of the local areas they serve.
The 20 counties in the Central Texas region – one of 12 economic regions defined by the Comptroller’s office – include five community college districts.
List of community college districts in the Central Texas region
- Blinn College
- Central Texas College
- Hill College
- McLennan Community College
- Temple College
Regional Impact of Community Colleges’ spending,
Fiscal 2019
Employment
5,719
Output
$552.4 million
Compensation
$282.6 million
Note: Figures include direct, indirect and induced economic impacts.
Sources: JobsEQ, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Texas community colleges.
Wages by Educational Attainment
Community colleges provide their students with a good return on their investment.
In 2018, workers in the Central Texas region with some college or associate degrees and stable jobs earned an average of $3,773 more annually than high school graduates.
Average Annual Earnings by Educational Attainment, Central Texas Region, 2018
| Educational Attainment | Number Employed, Region | Average Annual Earnings, Region | Number Employed, Texas | Average Annual Earnings, Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than high school | 66,723 | $37,202 | 2,065,483 | $42,808 |
| High school or equivalent, no college | 104,529 | $41,848 | 2,765,759 | $52,035 |
| Some college or associate degree | 117,903 | $45,621 | 3,245,675 | $60,428 |
| Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree | 79,996 | $61,237 | 2,454,975 | $95,716 |
| Educational attainment not available | 66,089 | $20,528 | 1,544,282 | $22,087 |
| Total | 435,240 | $43,447 | 12,076,174 | $58,787 |
Average overall: $43,447
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and JobsEQ
Average wage Increase Over High School or Equivalent
$3,773
Number of workers, Some College or Associate Degree
117,903
Total Regional additional wages
$444.8 Million
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, JobsEQ and
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Certificates and Degrees
Top Certificates and Degrees, Central Texas Region, 2017-18 School Year
| Certificates and Degrees | Number Awarded |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 4,678 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences | 1,648 |
| Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services | 1,360 |
| Security and Protective Services | 745 |
| Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 739 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 726 |
| Skilled Precision Production of Leather, Metal or Wood Products | 553 |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services | 475 |
| Personal and Culinary Services | 271 |
| Construction Trades | 240 |
Source: JobsEQ
Regional Employment Needs
Fastest growing Occupations, Central Texas Region 2014 to 2019
| Occupation | Number Employed | Average Annual Wages | LQ | Number Unemployed | Unemployment Rate | Five-Year Employment Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food and Beverage Serving Workers | 28,795 | $20,500 | 1.2 | 1,853 | 6.0% | 4,394 |
| Other Personal Care,and Service Workers | 12,763 | $21,400 | 0.93 | 602 | 4.5% | 2,210 |
| Retail Sales Workers | 29,329 | $24,200 | 1.07 | 1,729 | 5.5% | 1,990 |
| Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners | 18,358 | $94,900 | 1.03 | 158 | 0.9% | 1,820 |
| Building Cleaning and Pest Control Workers | 12,059 | $24,100 | 1.04 | 595 | 4.7% | 1,635 |
Source: JobsEQ
Community college districts in the Central Texas region awarded more than 4,600 general studies and liberal arts certificates and associate degrees in the 2017-18 school year, followed by health professions and business administration certificates and degrees.
Spotlight
BLINN COLLEGE
- Beginning Fall 2020, the Texas A&M Engineering Academy at Blinn-Brenham will increase the number of students accepted into its engineering program from 100 to 150 students per year, allowing more high-achieving engineering students to pursue their engineering bachelor’s degree.
- Blinn’s health information technology program prepares students for careers such as health information management technicians, coders, documentation specialists, revenue cycle specialists, patient advocates and insurance specialists.
- Blinn College offers a unique opportunity for students to enroll in the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) Forensic Science Academy, where they receive high-quality forensic technical training.
Summary
Community colleges play a vital role for students and businesses by offering postsecondary education and job training at great value.
As the Central Texas region’s five community college districts work to address local skills gaps and meet the specific needs of area employers, they support more than 5,700 jobs and add more than $550 million in economic output annually. Furthermore, the higher pay of those with some college or an associate degree helps raise total wages in the region nearly $445 million per year.
Questions?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the material on this page, please contact the Comptroller’s Data Analysis and Transparency Division.