Shelton State Touts $248M Economic Impact In FY 2020-21

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Shelton State Community College on Monday announced the results of a recent study showing that the school added $248.1 million in income to the SSCC service area in Tuscaloosa and Bibb counties for 2020-21.

The latest data was published in an independent, 102-page report by Lightcast, which found that students and alumni of colleges within the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) add $6.6 billion to the state's economy, while supporting one out of every 27 jobs in Alabama.

Shelton State's impact was among the largest, with a value approximately equal to 2.2% of the region’s total gross regional product (GRP).

In looking at impacts to employment, SSCC’s impact supported 3,952 jobs, while its students support one out of every 33 jobs in its two-county service area.

Indeed, 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, with students adding $7.2 million in income to the service area economy.

Click here to view the full report.

What's more, Shelton State employed 410 full-time and part-time faculty and staff during the reporting period, with a payroll of $25.4 million.

Shelton State President Chris Cox said the school 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.

“Our students, faculty, and staff are our most significant investment," he said. "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.”

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