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Regional Impact of Community Colleges’ spending,
Texas Community Colleges
South 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 28 counties in the South Texas region — one of 12 economic regions defined by the Comptroller’s office — include six community college districts.
List of community college districts in the South Texas region
- Coastal Bend College
- Del Mar College
- Laredo Community College
- South Texas College
- Southwest Texas Junior College
- Texas Southmost College
Regional Impact of Community Colleges’ spending,
Fiscal 2019
Employment
8,353
Output
$820.7 million
Compensation
$401.5 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 South Texas region with some college or associate degrees and stable jobs earned an average of $4,082 more annually than high school graduates.
Average Annual Earnings by Educational Attainment, South Texas Region, 2018
| Educational Attainment | Number Employed, Region | Average Annual Earnings, Region | Number Employed, Texas | Average Annual Earnings, Texas |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Less than high school | 208,634 | $36,756 | 2,065,483 | $42,808 |
| High school or equivalent, no college | 190,717 | $42,462 | 2,765,759 | $52,035 |
| Some college or associate degree | 200,785 | $46,544 | 3,245,675 | $60,428 |
| Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree | 103,605 | $60,260 | 2,454,975 | $95,716 |
| Educational attainment not available | 112,033 | $22,869 | 1,544,282 | $22,087 |
| Total | 815,773 | $42,662 | 12,076,174 | $58,787 |
Average overall: $43,447
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and JobsEQ
Average wage Increase Over High School or Equivalent
$4,082
Number of workers, Some College or Associate Degree
200,785
Total Regional additional wages
$819.6 Million
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, JobsEQ and
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Certificates and Degrees
Top Certificates and Degrees, South Texas Region, 2017-18 School Year
| Certificates and Degrees | Number Awarded |
|---|---|
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences | 5,599 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 3,408 |
| Skilled Precision Production of Leather, Metal or Wood Products | 1,308 |
| Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services | 1,290 |
| Personal and Culinary Services | 1,041 |
| Security and Protective Services | 897 |
| Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services | 890 |
| Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians | 789 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians | 609 |
| Education | 502 |
Source: JobsEQ
Regional Employment Needs
Fastest growing Occupations, South Texas Region 2014 to 2019
| Occupation | Number Employed | Average Annual Wages | LQ | Number Unemployed | Unemployment Rate | Five-Year Employment Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other Personal Care and Service Workers | 59,215 | $20,400 | 2.31 | 4,579 | 7.1% | 19,575 |
| Food and Beverage Serving Workers | 50,703 | $20,100 | 1.13 | 4,777 | 8.4% | 5,503 |
| Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners | 38,402 | $95,500 | 1.15 | 570 | 1.5% | 4,420 |
| Business Operations Specialists | 19,982 | $62,900 | 0.64 | 842 | 4.1% | 1,994 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians | 23,170 | $43,700 | 1.25 | 719 | 3.0% | 1,933 |
Source: JobsEQ
The South Texas region’s community college districts awarded more than 5,500 certificates and associate degrees in health professions in the 2017-18 school year; the next most-common award areas were general studies and liberal arts and precision production.
Spotlight
SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE
- The South Texas College (STC) Regional Center for Public Safety Excellence provides advanced training for local, state and federal public safety professionals along the U.S./Mexico border to help address public safety challenges including cyber incidents and threat assessment.
- STC’s Registered Apprenticeship Program focuses on connecting students studying automotive technology, industrial maintenance, HVAC and machining with local employers.
- To help students learn about growing industries in the community, in fall 2019 STC added a personal trainer certification as well as courses in drama, public safety and culinary arts.
Summary
Community colleges play a vital role for students and businesses by offering postsecondary education and job training at great value.
As the South Texas region’s six community college districts work to address local skills gaps and meet the specific needs of area employers, they support nearly 8,400 jobs and add almost $821 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 another $820 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.