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Regional Impact of Community Colleges’
Texas Community Colleges
West 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 30 counties in the West Texas region — one of 12 economic regions defined by the Comptroller’s office — include three community college districts.
List of community college districts in the Upper Rio Grande region
- Howard College
- Midland College
- Odessa College
Regional Impact of Community Colleges’
spending, Fiscal 2019
Employment
2,345
Output
$253.7 million
Compensation
$130.9 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 West Texas region with some college or associate degrees and stable jobs earned an average of $3,331 more annually than high school graduates.
Average Annual Earnings by Educational Attainment, West Texas Region, 2018
| Educational Attainment | Average Annual Earnings, Region |
|---|---|
| Less than high school | $46,649 |
| High school or equivalent, no college | $54,196 |
| Some college or associate degree | $57,527 |
| Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree | $72,517 |
| Educational attainment not available | $30,065 |
| Total | $54,379 |
Average overall: $54,379
Source: U.S. Census Bureau and JobsEQ
Average wage Increase Over High School or Equivalent
$3,331
Number of workers, Some College or Associate Degree
76,276
Total Regional additional wages
$254.1 million
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, JobsEQ and
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Certificates and Degrees
Top Certificates and Degrees, West Texas Region
| Certificates and Degrees | Number Awarded |
|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 1,215 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences | 509 |
| Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services | 275 |
| Personal and Culinary Services | 171 |
| Security and Protective Services | 162 |
Source: JobsEQ
Regional Employment Needs
Fastest growing Occupations, West Texas Region
| Occupation | Total Employed | 5-Year Employment Change |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Trades Workers | 19,761 | 4,389 |
| Motor Vehicle Operators | 16,432 | 3,760 |
| Extraction Workers | 19,185 | 3,581 |
| Food and Beverage Serving Workers | 16,717 | 2,333 |
| Material Moving Workers | 11,566 | 1,610 |
Source: JobsEQ
The West Texas region’s community college districts awarded more than 1,200 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
HOWARD COLLEGE
- The SouthWest College for the Deaf (SWCD), a Howard College campus, is the only community college setting for the deaf and hard-of-hearing in the country.
- Howard College plays a key role in training in the area of health professions to address regional skills gaps and put graduates to work in the community as first responders, nurses, phlebotomy technicians, EKG technicians and more for daily and emergency health care.
- Howard College maintains a dental hygiene program to prepare hygienists in the West Texas area and a dental lab technician program for its deaf students.
- Howard College works to prepare student inmates at the federal prison to have new lives and trade skills such as building construction and heating, air conditioning and ventilation upon release.
Summary
Community colleges play a vital role for students and businesses by offering postsecondary education and job training at great value. As the West Texas region’s three community college districts work to address local skills gaps and meet the needs of area employers, they support more than 2,300 jobs and add nearly $254 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 $254 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.