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Regional Impact of Community Colleges’
Texas Community Colleges
Upper East 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 23 counties in the Upper East Texas region — one of 12 economic regions defined by the Comptroller’s office — include seven community college districts.
List of community college districts in the Upper East Texas region
- Kilgore College
- Northeast Texas Community College
- Panola College
- Paris Junior College
- Texarkana College
- Trinity Valley Community College
- Tyler Junior College
Regional Impact of Community Colleges’
spending, Fiscal 2019
Employment
4,070
Output
$382.6 million
Compensation
$195.3 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 Upper East Texas region with some college or associate degrees and stable jobs earned an average of $4,092 more annually than high school graduates.
Average Annual Earnings by Educational Attainment, Upper East Texas Region, 2018
| Educational Attainment | Average Annual Earnings, Region |
|---|---|
| Less than high school | $35,759 |
| High school or equivalent, no college | $40,140 |
| Some college or associate degree | $44,232 |
| Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree | $59,697 |
| Educational attainment not available | $21,089 |
| Total | $42,167 |
Average overall: $42,167
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and JobsEQ
Average wage Increase Over High School or Equivalent
$4,092
Number of workers, Some College or Associate Degree
118,258
Total Regional additional wages
$483.9 million
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, JobsEQ and
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Certificates and Degrees
Top Certificates and Degrees, Upper East Texas Region
| Certificates and Degrees | Number Awarded |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 2,685 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences | 1,923 |
| Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 576 |
| Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services | 530 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 438 |
Source: JobsEQ
Regional Employment Needs
Fastest growing Occupations, Upper East Texas Region
| Occupation | Total Employed | 5-Year Employment Change |
|---|---|---|
| Other Personal Care and Service Workers | 14,602 | 3,606 |
| Food and Beverage Serving Workers | 24,031 | 3,021 |
| Building Cleaning and Pest Control Workers | 11,187 | 1,347 |
| Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners | 17,756 | 1,185 |
| Top Executives | 7,013 | 748 |
Source: JobsEQ
The Upper East Texas region’s community college districts awarded more than 2,600 certificates and associate degrees in general studies and liberal arts in the 2017-18 school year; the next most common award areas were health professions and mechanic and repair technologies.
Spotlight
TYLER JUNIOR COLLEGE
- The game and simulation development program at Tyler Junior College (TJC) prepares students for entry-level positions in programming or graphics in Texas’ video game industry, which offers the second most game development jobs in the country.
- The power plant technology program at TJC provides students with the skills needed to begin a career in power plants, chemical plants, manufacturing, industrial maintenance, food processors and petrochemical industries.
- TJC’s criminal justice program has been training law enforcement professionals for over 50 years and had graduates working in every Tyler and Smith County law enforcement agency as of February 2019.
Summary
Community colleges play a vital role for students and businesses by offering postsecondary education and job training at great value. As the Upper East Texas region’s seven community college districts work to address local skills gaps and meet the specific needs of area employers, they support more than 4,000 jobs and add almost $383 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 by nearly $484 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.