KCC Study Shows Major Economic Impact Across Klamath Basin
Klamath Community College contributes $80.8 million to local, regional economy
AT A GLANCE
Economic impact: About $80 million during 2023-24, according to the Lightcast analysis. KCC Economic Impact for 2026
Jobs supported: 1,233 regional jobs, including roughly one out of every 28 jobs in KCC’s service district. KCC Economic Impact for 2026
College operations: $23.5 million in economic activity. KCC Economic Impact for 2026
Student spending: $2.2 million. KCC Economic Impact for 2026
Alumni impact: $55 million from graduates remaining in the Basin workforce. KCC Economic Impact for 2026
Employment: KCC employed 468 full- and part-time faculty and staff in 2023-24, with $19.7 million in payroll. KCC Economic Impact for 2026
Taxpayer benefit: The analysis estimates $24.4 million in additional government revenue over students’ working careers.
KLAMATH FALLS – Not only does Klamath Community College provide higher education and career options for families in the Klamath Basin, but it is also an economic engine that drives growth and creates stability in the business community.
A recent, independent study by the Lightcast analysis group found that KCC’s total economic impact was $80 million in 2023-24, the most current statistics available. Of that, its operations pumped $23.5 million into the local economy; student spending added $2.2 million and the alumni contributed $55 million by remaining in the Basin to work.
All told, $80 million supports 1,233 jobs in the region, the report said. One out of 28 jobs in KCC’s service district is supported by KCC and its students.
“Klamath Community College is successful in providing students careers where they can earn a decent living,” KCC President Dr. Roberto Gutierrez, said. “The average graduate earns $7,700 more annually with a KCC certificate or degree than a student with only a high school diploma.
“Moreso, we offer programs that will build our local economy. That is a key tenet in many of the decisions we make when expanding the college. Not because it is profitable, but because it is the right thing to do for our community.”
Economic Impact: Klamath Community College’s 2023-24 economic impact analysis estimates the college generated $80.8 million in added income and supported 1,233 jobs across its service district. Klamath Community College / Lightcast.
Randy Cox, Executive Director of Klamath County Economic Development Association, said, “Klamath Community College is where education becomes economic development. KCC doesn’t just prepare students for jobs, it prepares Klamath County for economic opportunity. By building a strong, skilled talent pipeline, KCC helps remove one of the biggest barriers businesses face when deciding whether to expand, invest, or locate in our community.”
“Klamath Community College is helping drive the economic momentum of our community,” Klamath County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot said. “By responding quickly to the workforce needs of local employers — from healthcare and the building trades to specialized manufacturing training — KCC is putting people to work and helping businesses grow. Our community’s economic future is stronger because KCC is meeting today’s workforce challenges head-on.”
KCC employed 468 full-time and part-time faculty and staff in 2023-24. Payroll amounted to $19.7 million, much of which was spent in the region on groceries, mortgages, and rent payments, dining out and other household expenses, the Lightcast report says. The college spent another $15.9 million on its expenses related to facilities, supplies, and professional services.
As KCC students earn more, they will make greater tax payments throughout their working careers. That translates to taxpayers seeing a $24.4 million benefit to government coffers.
Further, as students earn more, their lifestyle improves, which helps to drive down medical and health care costs. These costs are usually associated with smoking, obesity, substance abuse and social necessities such as welfare and unemployment expenses.
Graduate Earnings: KCC’s economic analysis estimates an associate degree graduate earns about $7,700 more annually than someone with only a high school diploma, while also generating broader taxpayer and community benefits. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Klamath Community College / Lightcast.
“The results of the analysis demonstrate that KCC is a strong investment for students and society,” the report concludes. “As shown, students receive a great return for their investments in an education from the college. From the taxpayer perspective, the benefits generated by the college and its students recover a significant portion of the costs borne by taxpayer and create a wide range of social benefits throughout Oregon.”
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