Clatsop Community College contributed $118.8 million in added income to the Clatsop County economy and supported 1,450 jobs in fiscal year 2023-24, according to a new economic impact report examining the college’s value to students, taxpayers and the region.
The college’s economic impact was equal to approximately 4.8% of Clatsop County’s gross regional product. Put another way, one out of every 19 jobs in the county was supported by the activities of CCC and its students.
The report, prepared by labor market analytics firm Lightcast using fiscal year 2023-24 data, measures the impact of college operations, student spending, alumni earnings and the increased productivity of businesses that employ CCC graduates.
“Clatsop Community College’s impact reaches far beyond the classroom,” CCC President Jarrod Hogue said. “Our students become the nurses, welders, maritime professionals, educators, business leaders and skilled employees who keep our region moving forward. When we invest in their education, we strengthen local businesses, support families and build a more resilient economy for our entire community.”
CCC’s total annual economic impact includes:
- $104.3 million from the increased earnings of CCC alumni and the greater productivity of the businesses that employ them, supporting 1,289 jobs.
- $12.7 million from college payroll and other operating expenses, supporting 134 jobs.
- $1.8 million from the spending of students who relocated to or remained in Clatsop County to attend CCC, supporting 27 jobs.
The college employed 151 full- and part-time faculty and staff during the analysis year, 80% of whom lived in Clatsop County. CCC had a total payroll of $14 million and spent an additional $5.7 million on facilities, supplies and professional services. Much of that spending circulated through the local economy in the form of housing, groceries, dining, services and other household and business expenses.
The greatest share of CCC’s economic impact comes from its alumni. Thousands of former students are employed throughout Clatsop County, where their education and training help them earn higher wages and increase the productivity of local employers. CCC and its students support jobs across a range of industries, including health care and social assistance, accommodation and food services, retail trade, manufacturing, and real estate and rental services.
The report also found that education from CCC provides a substantial return for students. For every dollar students invest in tuition, supplies and forgone earnings while attending college, they receive an estimated $5.20 in higher future earnings.
CCC served 1,218 credit students and 1,234 noncredit students during fiscal year 2023-24, providing education and workforce training that supports individual opportunity while helping regional employers meet their need for qualified workers.
The benefits extend throughout Oregon. The report estimates that CCC generates $98.5 million in benefits to society through increased student earnings, greater business productivity, college activities and social savings associated with improved health, reduced justice-system costs and decreased reliance on income assistance. For every dollar invested in CCC, Oregonians receive an estimated $4.30 in economic and social benefits.
“This report confirms what we see every day, that education creates a ripple effect,” Hogue said. “When students gain new skills and opportunities, the benefits spread to their families, their employers and the communities where they live and work. Clatsop Community College is proud to be an important part of the economic and social well-being of our region.”
At the statewide level, Oregon’s 17 community colleges added $11 billion to the state economy in fiscal year 2023-24, equal to 3.7% of Oregon’s gross state product. Together, they supported 120,140 jobs — one out of every 23 jobs in the state. The colleges served 125,399 credit students and 77,494 noncredit students during the report year.
The study used CCC academic and financial data, industry and employment information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau, and Lightcast’s economic modeling. The report applies a conservative methodology using widely recognized measures of economic impact and investment effectiveness.
For more information about Clatsop Community College and the economic impact study, visit clatsopcc.edu/economic-contribution-of-clatsop-community-college/.
