Rancho Santiago Community College district infuses $2 billion into local economy
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 our students and the local economy.”
The report is being sent to every taxpayer in the district because they are the stakeholders in the district, Perez said.
“They are the ones paying for all this,” the vice chancellor said. “Without them, we couldn’t be doing what we’re doing. They are the ones that are giving students a second and a third chance at a career and a life and, frankly, we want to make sure that we get this information to them so that they know the incredible contribution that they’re making by their investment.”
Of all the contributors to the county’s economy generated by the district, the most important is the creation of jobs, he said.
Taxpayers are generally willing to invest in a community college that aims to educate the community and create jobs. One mission of the district is to determine which careers will be in demand in the future and create curriculums that will prepare students for those careers, Perez said.
“When we look at economic impact, we want to make sure that both our colleges are very focused on providing the education and the training to ensure that students coming in are moving into those high-paying jobs and then coming back into our community, Perez said.
The district must also prepare those students who plan to advance from a community college to a four-year institution, Perez said.
The 2020-2021 Economic Impact Study was commissioned by the Orange County Regional Consortium Governance Council through Strong Workforce Program investments.
Data used in the study is compiled from several sources, including the FY 2020-21 academic and financial reports from RSCCD, industry and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the U.S. Census Bureau.
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