Shelton State Boasts $248 Million Annual Impact

In 2020-21, Shelton State Community College added $248.1 million in income to the SSCC service area (Tuscaloosa County and Bibb County) economy, a value approximately equal to 2.2% of the region’s total gross regional product (GRP). Expressed in terms of jobs, SSCC’s impact supported 3,952 jobs. For perspective, the activities of SSCC and its students support one out of every 33 jobs in the SSCC service area. The College employed 410 full-time and part-time faculty and staff. Payroll amounted to $25.4 million. The net impact of SSCC’s former students currently employed in the regional workforce amounted to $204.1 million in added income in FY 2020-21. Students added $7.2 million in income to the service area economy.

“Shelton State is a proud member of the ACCS, and the economic impact report shows how imperative the existence of the local community college is throughout the state,” said Chris Cox, Ph.D., Shelton State President. “Our students, faculty, and staff are our most significant investment. There is no greater value than training the next generation of West Alabama’s workforce and providing stable employment for SSCC alumni, faculty, and staff in our service area.”

Among the report’s highlights:

• The impact of the Alabama Community College System, which celebrates 60 years as a system this year and represents 24 community and technical colleges across Alabama, supported 98,923 jobs in FY2021. For perspective, the activities of the colleges and their students support one out of every 27 jobs in Alabama.
• Taxpayers, who provided the Alabama Community College System with $869.8 million of funding in FY2020-21, will receive an added tax revenue benefit of $1.1 billion. Additionally, reduced demand for government-funded services in Alabama will add another $82.2 million in benefits to taxpayers.
• The ACCS generates $7.40 for every dollar invested in ACCS, for as long as the colleges’ FY2020-21 students remain active in the state workforce.
• The average Alabama community college graduate earns $7,900 more each year than a resident who does not obtain more than a high school diploma.
• The average annual return for Alabama community college students is 22.1%.
• The colleges’ operations spending was $535.8 million in added income to the state economy.
• The colleges’ construction spending was $13.3 million in added income for Alabama.
• The jobs retained or created and additional investments by businesses supported by the Alabama Technology Network, an entity of the ACCS, created $206.5 million in added income.
• As a result of the $1.8 billion invested by Alabama to support the ACCS, the economy will grow by $12.8 billion over the course of students’ working lives.

Lightcast, a global leader in labor market analytics for colleges and universities, analyzed data using FY2020-21 academic and financial reports from Alabama’s community and technical colleges, as well industry and employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Census Bureau.

The full report can be found at www.accs.edu/impact.

Shelton State’s report can be found at www.sheltonstate.edu/about-us/economic-impact/.