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Texas Community Colleges
Capital 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 10 counties in the Capital region — one of 12 economic regions defined by the Comptroller’s office — include one community college district.
List of community college districts in the Capital region
- Austin Community College District
- Cypress Creek Campus
- Eastview Campus
- Elgin Campus
- Hays Campus
- Highland Campus
- Northridge Campus
- Rio Grande Campus
- San Gabriel
- South Austin
Regional Impact of Community Colleges’ spending, Fiscal 2019
Employment
5,305
Output
$691.8 million
Compensation
$399.6 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 Capital region with some college or associate degrees and stable jobs earned an average of $4,606 more annually than high school graduates.
Average Annual Earnings by Educational Attainment, Capital Region, 2018
| Educational Attainment | Average Annual Earnings, Region |
|---|---|
| Less than high school | $41,802 |
| High school or equivalent, no college | $45,878 |
| Some college or associate degree | $50,484 |
| Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree | $68,165 |
| Educational attainment not available | $22,583 |
| Total | $48,423 |
Average overall: $48,423
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and JobsEQ
Average wage Increase Over High School or Equivalent
$4,606
Number of workers, Some College or Associate Degree
283,327
Total Regional additional wages
$1.31 Billion
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, JobsEQ and
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Certificates and Degrees
Top Certificates and Degrees, Capital Region, 2017-18 School Year
| Certificates and Degrees | Number Awarded |
|---|---|
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences | 1,946 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services | 1,556 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 1,176 |
| Personal and Culinary Services | 849 |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services | 489 |
Source: JobsEQ
Regional Employment Needs
Fastest growing Occupations, Capital Region 2014 to 2019
| Occupation | Number Employed | Five-Year Employment Change |
|---|---|---|
| OCUPACIONES INFORMÁTICAS | 56,718 | 15,876 |
| TRABAJADORES DEL SERVICIO DE ALIMENTOS Y BEBIDAS | 68,897 | 14,487 |
| TRABAJADORES DE COMERCIOS DE CONSTRUCCIÓN | 47,502 | 10,011 |
| ESPECIALISTAS EN OPERACIONES DE NEGOCIO | 42,359 | 9,397 |
| TRABAJADORES DE INFORMACIÓN Y REGISTROS | 48,122 | 7,987 |
Source: JobsEQ
The Capital region’s one community college district awarded more than 1,900 certificates and associate degrees in health professions in the 2017-18 school year; the next most-common award areas were business administration and general studies and liberal arts.
Spotlight
Austin Community COLLEGE
- In response to a critical nursing shortage in Central Texas, ACC launched its first bachelor’s degree program in Fall 2018 to allow registered nurses to complete a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
- With $1.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Labor, ACC is partnering with IBM to train 350 apprentices in four years.
- Thanks to a grant from JP Morgan Chase, ACC is expanding its Career ACCelerator Program, which offers students a self-paced training schedule, and added tracks in IT, healthcare and manufacturing in Fall 2019.
- ACC has partnered with Toyota Motor North American to offer military personnel a focused Technician Training and Education network program, which began in Spring 2020.
Summary
Community colleges play a vital role for students and businesses by offering postsecondary education and job training at great value. As Austin Community College, the Central Texas region’s only community college district, works to address local skills gaps and meet the specific needs of area employers, it supports more than 5,300 jobs and adds almost $692 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 more than $1.3 billion 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.