Study shows benefits of community colleges
LaToya Mack, staff writer
©Kinston Free Press

A study of state community colleges shows that students aren't the only ones benefiting from the schools.

North Carolina's Community College System hired CCBenefits, a national research firm, to study the economic impact of the state's community colleges.

"We wanted to quantify our value," said Martin Lancaster, Community College System president. "We kept saying what a value we were. We wanted to prove it with a credible study."

Lancaster spoke to the Kinston Rotary Club on Thursday about the economic impact study.

The study addressed two aspects: the direct impact of community colleges and the return on investment for taxpayer and students.

North Carolina community colleges add $14.6 billion to the statewide earnings through the incomes of college employees, employees in businesses where colleges spend money and the community college alumni.

Lenoir, Greene and Jones county residents can thank Lenoir Community College for adding about $64 million in direct earnings to the local economy through LCC employees and past students.

Every dollar of state or local tax money invested in LCC is returned by $7.49 over the next 30 years. Statewide, the rate of return is 18.6 percent on taxpayer investments.

"We're showing taxpayers that they get an excellent return on their investment and that money allocated to Lenoir Community College should be viewed as an investment and not an expenditure," LCC President Brantley Briley said.

Lancaster said the results of the study will be used to generate support for the Community College System. LCC officials will use the study as a tool when talking to funding agencies, civic groups and individual donors, Briley said.

"The study proves that Lenoir Community College could greatly enhance the educational opportunities for the citizens of Lenoir, Jones and Greene counties with an increase in funding," Briley said.

The greatest benefit of the study may be what it teaches residents about the community colleges' impact.

"People generally are aware of Lenoir Community College. they are aware that we do any number of wonderful things," Briley said. "I'm not sure they know to what extent we're able to change things in our community. It validates what we've known and others have probably suspected all along."

LaToya Mack can be reached at (252) 527-3191, Ext. 273, or lmack@freedomenc.com.