The Alabama Community College System contributes $8.1 billion to the state’s economy, says a report from Lightcast, a labor market analysis company. That figure equals about 3% of Alabama’s total gross state product, the report concludes.
The report also notes that the community colleges support 114,043 jobs in Alabama and that some students stayed in Alabama for college because of the community colleges’ availability. In the 2023-2024 school year, 3% of ACCS students were from out of state, with some relocating to Alabama specifically to attend one of the state’s community colleges. The report states that expenditures of relocated and retained students in fiscal year 2023-2024 added $170.3 million in income to the Alabama economy.
The report notes that the system’s greatest impact comes from the community college graduates, who in fiscal year 2023-2024 generated $6.9 billion in added income.
“Our students and graduates are working, earning and reinvesting in Alabama’s communities,” said ACCS Chancellor Jimmy Baker. “Businesses across the state rely on them to keep operations strong. No other entity has a greater reach in education and workforce training, and we are committed to ensuring every student leaves our colleges prepared to contribute to their communities, their industries and Alabama’s economic growth.”
From the students’ perspective, the report notes that students can expect a more than reasonable return on their 2-year education investment. For every dollar a student invests in his or her education with ACCS, he or she can expect to gain $5.60 in lifetime earnings. The average ACCS associate degree graduate from FY 2023-2024 will see annual earnings $9,200 higher than a person with a high school diploma or equivalent working in Alabama.
The report also notes that the system generates more tax dollars than it takes in, with state taxpayers seeing $1.20 in added tax revenue and public sector savings for every $1 invested in the system.
The Alabama Technology Network, a division of ACCS, also helped businesses retain or create more than 3,000 jobs in FY 2023-2024. These jobs, along with additional business investments supported by ATN, contributed $383.8 million in added income to Alabama’s economy, according to the report.
To view the full report, visit accs.edu/impact.
The Alabama Community College System includes 24 colleges across more than 130 locations. It supports more than 170,000 Alabamians through certification, credential and degree programs. In addition, ACCS has the Alabama Technology Network, providing specialized training for businesses, and the ACCS Innovation Center, which offers rapid skills training through its Skills for Success program.
