The Rancho Santiago Community College District in collaboration with its two colleges, Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College, contributed nearly $2 billion in income to the Orange County economy in FY2020-21, an economic impact report published by RSCCD showed.
The study showed that RSCCD creates value for county businesses, the workforce and students.
Individually, SAC and SCC contribute $1.3 billion and $468.2 million, respectively, accounting for .7% of the county’s Gross Regional Product.
This economic presence also contributes to the creation of 20,999 jobs within the county, the report stated.
RSCCD employed 3,112 full-time and part-time faculty and staff, amounting to a payroll of $214.6 million, much of which was spent within the county.
An additional $170.9 million was spent on day-to-day expenses related to facilities, supplies, and professional services.
Former students currently employed in the county workforce contribute $1.5 billion in added income and $127.8 million in income was generated by relocated and retained students, the report showed.
Chancellor Marvin Martinez and the RSCCD’s board of trustees are adamant that the services the district contracts for are having an economic impact locally, said Enrique Perez, vice chancellor of educational services.
“Apart from that, it’s also a student that comes in and all of a sudden goes from either not having a job or a low-paying job to having a higher-paying job,” Perez said. “And so that’s an economic impact, obviously, because now he or she can buy a home and make more purchases.”
The report was compiled by Lightcast, a labor market analytics firm used by educational institutions worldwide to conduct economic impact studies.
“The study’s findings highlight the impact of RSCCD and our two campuses on the Orange County community,” Martinez said. “We are committed to providing a conducive educational environment, and these findings reaffirm our dedication to…
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