Economic Impact

The College commissions an economic impact analysis every five years. The most recent study (Tannehill, 2024, with review by an outside economist) estimates the College’s total annual impact on the Tolliver County economy at $18.3 million, comprising direct payroll and purchasing, student spending, and the added regional earnings of graduates who remain in the county, which the study estimates at 71%. The 2019 study estimated county retention at 68%; the difference reflects an updated household survey, not a change in methodology.

The full study, including limitations, is available as a PDF from the Office of Institutional Effectiveness. The College notes that impact estimates of this kind are sensitive to assumptions about graduate retention and are presented as estimates only.

An economic impact summary also appears in the annual Bellweather Serves report; see /community/report. Where the summary and the full study differ, the full study governs.