View in EDS

The Economic Value of the Maine Community College System. Main Report

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: The Economic Value of the Maine Community College System. Main Report
Language: English
Authors: Maine Community College System (MCCS), Lightcast
Source: Maine Community College System. 2026.
Availability: Maine Community College System. 323 State Street, Augusta, ME 04330. Tel: 207-629-4000; Fax: 207-629-4048; Web site: http://www.mccs.me.edu
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 114
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Two Year Colleges
Descriptors: Community Colleges, Economic Impact, Expenditures, Community College Students, School Construction, Operating Expenses, Alumni, Consumer Economics, Outcomes of Education, Investment, Student Costs, Education Work Relationship, Taxes, Cost Effectiveness
Geographic Terms: Maine
Abstract: During fiscal year (FY) 2024-25, the Maine Community College System (MCCS) spent $115.2 million on payroll and benefits for 1,760 full-time and part-time employees and spent another $74.4 million on goods and services to carry out the colleges' day-to-day and construction operations. This initial round of spending creates more spending across other businesses throughout the state economy, resulting in the commonly referred to multiplier effects. This report assesses the collective impact of MCCS as a whole on the state economy and the benefits generated by the colleges for students, taxpayers, and society. The approach is twofold, beginning with an economic impact analysis of the colleges on the Maine economy. A specialized Multi-Regional Social Accounting Matrix (MR-SAM) model is used to calculate the added income created in the Maine economy as a result of increased consumer spending and the added knowledge, skills, and abilities of students. Results of the economic impact analysis are broken out according to the following impacts: (1) impact of the colleges' operations spending; (2) impact of the colleges' construction spending; (3) impact of student spending; and (4) impact of alumni who are still employed in the Maine workforce. The second component of the study measures the benefits generated by MCCS for students, taxpayers, and society. For students, an investment analysis is performed to determine how the money spent by students on their education performs as an investment over time. The students' investment in this case consists of their out-of-pocket expenses, the cost of interest incurred on student loans, and the opportunity cost of attending the colleges as opposed to working. In return for these investments, students receive a lifetime of higher earnings. For taxpayers, the study measures the benefits to state taxpayers in the form of increased tax revenues and public sector savings stemming from a reduced demand for social services. Finally, for society, the study assesses how the students' higher earnings and improved quality of life create benefits throughout Maine as a whole. The results of this study show that MCCS creates a positive net impact on the state economy and generates a positive return on investment.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED679620
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
  – Url: https://eric.ed.gov/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED679620
    Name: ERIC Full Text
    Category: fullText
    Text: Full Text from ERIC
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: ED679620
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Report
PubTypeId: report
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The Economic Value of the Maine Community College System. Main Report
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maine+Community+College+System+%28MCCS%29%22">Maine Community College System (MCCS)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lightcast%22">Lightcast</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Maine+Community+College+System%22"><i>Maine Community College System</i></searchLink>. 2026.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Maine Community College System. 323 State Street, Augusta, ME 04330. Tel: 207-629-4000; Fax: 207-629-4048; Web site: http://www.mccs.me.edu
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: N
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 114
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Two+Year+Colleges%22">Two Year Colleges</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+Colleges%22">Community Colleges</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Economic+Impact%22">Economic Impact</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Expenditures%22">Expenditures</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+College+Students%22">Community College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Construction%22">School Construction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Operating+Expenses%22">Operating Expenses</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Alumni%22">Alumni</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Consumer+Economics%22">Consumer Economics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outcomes+of+Education%22">Outcomes of Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Investment%22">Investment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Costs%22">Student Costs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Education+Work+Relationship%22">Education Work Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Taxes%22">Taxes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cost+Effectiveness%22">Cost Effectiveness</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Maine%22">Maine</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: During fiscal year (FY) 2024-25, the Maine Community College System (MCCS) spent $115.2 million on payroll and benefits for 1,760 full-time and part-time employees and spent another $74.4 million on goods and services to carry out the colleges' day-to-day and construction operations. This initial round of spending creates more spending across other businesses throughout the state economy, resulting in the commonly referred to multiplier effects. This report assesses the collective impact of MCCS as a whole on the state economy and the benefits generated by the colleges for students, taxpayers, and society. The approach is twofold, beginning with an economic impact analysis of the colleges on the Maine economy. A specialized Multi-Regional Social Accounting Matrix (MR-SAM) model is used to calculate the added income created in the Maine economy as a result of increased consumer spending and the added knowledge, skills, and abilities of students. Results of the economic impact analysis are broken out according to the following impacts: (1) impact of the colleges' operations spending; (2) impact of the colleges' construction spending; (3) impact of student spending; and (4) impact of alumni who are still employed in the Maine workforce. The second component of the study measures the benefits generated by MCCS for students, taxpayers, and society. For students, an investment analysis is performed to determine how the money spent by students on their education performs as an investment over time. The students' investment in this case consists of their out-of-pocket expenses, the cost of interest incurred on student loans, and the opportunity cost of attending the colleges as opposed to working. In return for these investments, students receive a lifetime of higher earnings. For taxpayers, the study measures the benefits to state taxpayers in the form of increased tax revenues and public sector savings stemming from a reduced demand for social services. Finally, for society, the study assesses how the students' higher earnings and improved quality of life create benefits throughout Maine as a whole. The results of this study show that MCCS creates a positive net impact on the state economy and generates a positive return on investment.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: ERIC
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: ED679620
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED679620
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 114
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Community Colleges
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Economic Impact
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Expenditures
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Community College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Construction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Operating Expenses
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Alumni
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Consumer Economics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Outcomes of Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Investment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Costs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Education Work Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Taxes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cost Effectiveness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Maine
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The Economic Value of the Maine Community College System. Main Report
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Maine Community College System (MCCS)
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Lightcast
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Maine Community College System
              Type: main
ResultId 1