A just released study on The Economic Value of Kaskaskia College shows the colleges operations, construction, student spending, along with enhanced productivity of the college’s alumni generates $132.7 million a year in added income to the college district’s economy.
College President George Evans is pleased with what he sees in the report completed by Lightcast.
“We are definitely aligning our resources to the job employment needs in the area. Obviously manufacturing, health care, retail/trade and agriculture we are still committed to ensuring that what we are doing as an institution is feeding into the region.”
Evans says the report also analyzes what would happen if the college was not there.
“Our other report is a status report on what would happen if the institution was not here. One in 29 jobs would be impacted. For every dollar we receive in taxpayer assistance the individual get’s $1.10 in return on an annual basis. Plus that does not factor in the growth of income potential a student will have after graduating from KC. These are all things that I hope our public will take a look at an understand that we are still the best bang for your buck.”
Evans feels the college gets a bad rap from the rapidly rising cost of tuition at four-year institutions that has created the student loan bubble. He notes a student at Kaskaskia College can receive a two-year degree for $12,000. Evans thinks the report shows the college has done a good job keep up with inflation and rising costs without gouging students or taxpayers.
The report notes the $ 132.7 million in added income generated by the college into the economy is equivalent to supporting 2,062 jobs. The report says this means that one out of every 29 jobs in the college district is supported by the activities of KC and its students.
Kaskaskia College includes all of Marion, Clinton, Washington, and Bond Counties and a large part of Fayette County as well as small parts of several other counties.
