Recent studies measuring the effectiveness of Arizona’s community colleges name Yavapai College as a statewide leader in successful student outcomes and a dynamic force in the local economy.
Every year, the Arizona Community College Coordinating Council releases its Strategic Visions Outcome Report, with statewide data on how the state’s community colleges perform in terms of access, completion rates and alignment with Arizona’s workforce needs. While all ten institutions performed well, Yavapai College led the field in all categories, including completion rates in degree programs; successful outcomes for full-time and transfer students; and successful outcomes for occupational learners seeking post-secondary degrees, certificates, or workforce credentials.
“We are super-excited,” YC President Dr. Lisa Rhine said, when she presented the study to faculty and staff at her State of the College address. “This is representative not only of the hard work at the College, but also the accomplishments and success of our students – which is why we’re here.”
Student focus, regional impact
The AC4 report paints a picture of Yavapai College making a positive regional impact, one student at a time.
YC ranks first in the state among community college students seeking a degree or certificate within a six-year time frame. YC’s stunning 46.8% completion rate places it above the state completion rate (34.7%) and well above the national average of 31.9%.
That success carries over to local students seeking their general education (AGEC) credits, as well. Thirty-seven percent of YC students completed their Gen-Ed credits within a six-year period, first among Arizona community colleges, and more than 14 percentage points above the state average. YC leads the same category among transfer students – those who take their YC credits to a four-year college or university. An impressive 74.3% of them reported successful outcomes within a six-year time frame; a rate that’s 14.9% above the current state average.
Yavapai College students also led the field in productivity categories. Sixty-three-point-five percent of YC’s full-time students completed at least 42 credits by the end of their second academic year. A whopping 74.2% of YC’s occupational learners – those seeking a post-secondary degree or credential – reported success after one year of program completion.
Overall, 74.3% of Yavapai College learners reported achieving a successful outcome within six years of their studies, more than 25% higher than the national average of 48.8 percent.
The Big Picture
The Arizona Community College Coordinating Council also engaged Lightcast, an award-winning analytics firm, to conduct an economic impact study on state community colleges. The Lightcast study shows Yavapai College playing a robust part in local workforce training, supporting local industry, and boosting the economy as a whole.
Focusing on fiscal year 2021-22, the study found that Yavapai College added a total of $203.7 million in income to the county economy during that time. That figure includes the College’s multiple roles as major employer – with payroll and operational expenditures – and local investor ($1.3 in construction investments), as well as the impact of YC students spending locally ($10.2 million) and YC-trained personnel in the workforce ($149.2 million). The combined value is equal to approximately 2.2% of Yavapai County’s gross regional product (GRP). Lightcast estimates that Yavapai College and its programs supported 3,315 jobs (approximately one in every 33 jobs) in Yavapai County during that period.
College as an Investment
The Lightcast study also calculated Yavapai College’s return on investment from a variety of perspectives. From a civic standpoint, the College’s $83.9 million in costs will yield an estimated $542.7 million in the form of growth from the state’s economic base, future earnings and tax revenue, and private and social savings – a $6.50 return for every dollar invested.
YC students fared even better. The Lightcast study found that student spending at YC fostered a 29.9% average annual return rate, and a lifetime earnings ratio of $7.80 for every dollar spent.
Fiscally and academically, both studies portray Yavapai College as a worthy investment for the future of students and community alike.
“I am so incredibly proud of our accomplishments at Yavapai College,” Dr. Rhine said. “This data shows that, collectively, we can meet students where they are and help bring them to their goals.”
Both studies are available in detail here: www.yc.edu/value.
