The Importance of Community Colleges

• There are 50 Community College districts in Texas.
• More students attend Community/Technical colleges than attend Universities, with 669,354 of the total enrolled in any institution 1,335,676 (8)
• Across all higher education sectors, total enrollment nationally fell by 0.5% from spring 2022 to spring 2023, however, public 2-year institutions saw a 0.5% increase with 22,000 more students enrolled in spring 2023 vs. spring 2022 (1)
• Public community colleges serve a vital role in our state’s economy by developing our workforce and preparing students for further academic study. (3)
• During the past decade, 6 out of 10 undergraduate students enrolled at public universities in Texas have earned semester credit hours at a 2-year college in Texas. Whether measured by enrollment, retention, transfer, or graduation, the success of Texas public universities is linked to the success of Texas public community colleges (1)

Community College Student Impact

• According to Texas data, 90% of students who complete what the state calls “technical” programs are either employed or enrolled in further education and training the year following graduation (6)
• According to Opportunity America survey, 75% of noncredit learners are 25 or older, with nearly half over 35 years of age (6)
• In the 2020-2021 academic year, enrollment at community colleges was 7% Asian, 12% black, 26% Hispanic, and 44% white (4)
• 50% of credit seeking students are of Hispanic heritage compared to 40% of the total state population (6)
• 58% of all community college enrollment is black/Hispanic (6)
• The goal of the Texas initiative “Building a Talent Strong Texas” includes advancing our goals equitably. In raw numbers, Texas grew more than any other state over the past decade, and it is one of the youngest and most diverse states in the nation. More than 95% of our growth over the past decade was in communities of color, served largely by Community Colleges. (7)
• Workers in Texas with some college or associate degrees and with stable jobs (defined as those held with the same firm throughout a calendar quarter) earn an average of $8,393 more annually than high school graduates. The increase in wages alone for those 3.2 million workers adds an additional $27.2 Billion in direct compensation to the state economy each year. ( 3)

Community College Economic Impact

• U.S. community college students can expect to receive an additional $4.80 In future earnings for every dollar they spend on tuition. And for every taxpayer dollar invested in community colleges, the public sector sees a return of $6.80 with a present value of more than $300 Billion over the course of the graduates’ careers. (3)
• Nearly 78,000 jobs are supported by the college’s spending. Under normal economic conditions, every dollar spent by community colleges produces an additional 86 cents of economic activity, while every dollar spent on compensation produces an additional 38 cents of total income to the state economy. (3)
• Regional universities and community colleges play a critical role in research and innovation through their role as incubators, makerspaces, software development labs, and strategic partnerships. (7)

Community College Professors

• Between 2021 – 2022, taking 40-year high inflation into account, real wages for full-time faculty members fell 5%. (2)
• Community college faculty teaching academic transfer courses are required to possess the same minimum credentials as university faculty to be certified by SACSCOC. Teachers in workforce disciplines must also meet rigorous standards of accrediting agencies.
• Community college teachers' salaries are less than the national average. (5)

Citations:

1. Decker, B. (2023). Trends in Community College Enrollment. Texas A&M University System. https://www.tamus.edu/data-science/2023/06/01/trends-in-community-college-enrollment/
2. Flaherty, C. (2022). Inflation, inflation, inflation. Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2022/06/22/aaup-inflation-underlines-years-stagnant-faculty-pay
3. NA. (2022). Texas Community Colleges: Statewide overview. Comptroller Texas. https://comptroller.texas.gov/economy/economic-data/colleges/texas.php
4. NA. (2023a). Community college FAQ. Community College Research Center Columbia University. https://ccrc.tc.columbia.edu/community-college-faqs.html
5. NA. (2023b). Community college professor salary in Texas. Ziprecruiter. https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Community-College-Professor-Salary--in-Texas
6. NA. (2023c). How Texas colleges compare with those in other states. Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. https://www.dallasfed.org/research/pubs/23college/2
7. THECB. (2023a). Building a talent strong Texas. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. https://www.highered.texas.gov/our-work/talent-strong-texas/
8. THECB. (2023b). Texas Higher Education Enrollment. https://reportcenter.highered.texas.gov/reports/data/texas-higher-education-enrollments-2022/

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Political Participation Tips

Plan of Action for Grassroots Leaders:

• Fall Semester, Even-numbered Years
• Spring Semester, Odd-numbered Years
• Fall Semester, Odd-numbered Years
• Spring Semester, Even-numbered Years

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• Meeting with Your Legislator
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• Facts/Reminders to Legislators