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Texas Community Colleges
Metroplex 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 19 counties in the Metroplex region — one of 12 economic regions defined by the Comptroller’s office — include eight community college districts.
List of community college districts in the Metroplex region
- Collin County Community College District
- Dallas County Community College District
- Grayson College
- Navarro College
- North Central Texas College
- Tarrant County College District
- Trinity Valley Community College
- Weatherford College
Regional Impact of Community Colleges’ spending, Fiscal 2019
Employment
14,312
Output
$1.95 billion
Compensation
$936.8 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 Metroplex region with some college or associate degrees and stable jobs earned an average of $5,338 more annually than high school graduates.
Average Annual Earnings by Educational Attainment, Metroplex Region, 2018
| Educational Attainment | Average Annual Earnings, Region |
|---|---|
| Less than high school | $41,304 |
| High school or equivalent, no college | $47,257 |
| Some college or associate degree | $52,595 |
| Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree | $71,607 |
| Educational attainment not available | $21,399 |
| Total | $50,105 |
Average overall: $50,105
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and JobsEQ
Average wage Increase Over High School or Equivalent
$5,338
Number of workers, Some College or Associate Degree
967,689
Total Regional additional wages
$5.1 Billion
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, JobsEQ and
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Certificates and Degrees
Top Certificates and Degrees, Metroplex Region, 2017-18 School Year
| Certificates and Degrees | Number Awarded |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 14,150 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences | 7,290 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services | 3,852 |
| Personal and Culinary Services | 2,990 |
| Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 2,489 |
Source: JobsEQ
Regional Employment Needs
Fastest growing Occupations, Metroplex Region 2014 to 2019
| Occupation | Number Employed | Five-Year Employment Change |
|---|---|---|
| Food and Beverage Serving Workers | 203,231 | 32,971 |
| Material Moving Workers | 141,458 | 27,940 |
| Computer Occupations | 136,708 | 27,841 |
| Business Operations Specialists | 129,793 | 24,748 |
| Construction Trades Workers | 151,510 | 23,915 |
Source: JobsEQ
The Metroplex region’s community college districts awarded more than 14,000 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 business administration.
Spotlight
WEATHERFORD COLLEGE
- To meet demand for industrial maintenance technicians, Weatherford College has developed a program in industrial maintenance and automation technology with a grant from the National Science Foundation. Courses began in Fall 2019.
- In partnership with Weatherford Parker County Animal Shelter, Weatherford College plans to offer a veterinary technician program to help students begin or advance careers in the animal care industry beginning in August 2020.
- In response to high-demand, Weatherford College plans to offer bachelor’s degrees in nursing beginning in Fall 2020 and organizational leadership beginning in Fall 2021.
Summary
Community colleges play a vital role for students and businesses by offering postsecondary education and job training at great value. As the Metroplex region’s eight community college districts work to address local skills gaps and meet the specific needs of area employers, they support more than 14,000 jobs and add nearly $2 billion 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 $5 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.