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NEW STUDY: CHEMEKETA GENERATES $944 MILLION IN ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACT - 10/05/26
Lightcast analysis finds college supports more than 11,000 regional jobs and delivers significant returns for students, taxpayers and communities
Salem, Ore., October 5, 2026 — Chemeketa Community College generates $944 million in annual economic impact across Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties and supports 11,226 regional jobs, according to a new economic impact study conducted by Lightcast. The analysis found that Chemeketa’s impact is equivalent to approximately 3.1% of the region’s gross regional product and that one out of every 28 jobs in the three-county region is supported by the activities of Chemeketa and its students.
The study examined Chemeketa’s economic impact as well as the return on investment the college provides to students, taxpayers and society. The analysis used employee, student and financial data from fiscal year 2023-24.
“Chemeketa’s impact reaches far beyond our classrooms and campuses,” said Chemeketa President and CEO Jessica Howard, Ph.D. “Every student who gains new skills, earns a credential or degree, and takes that knowledge into the workplace strengthens our region. This study demonstrates that investing in our students is also an investment in local businesses, our workforce, and the long-term economic health of the communities we serve.”
The largest share of Chemeketa’s economic impact comes from its former students. Chemeketa alumni working in the region generated $809.5 million in added income during the study year through their higher earnings and the increased productivity of the businesses that employ them. That impact alone is equivalent to supporting 9,609 jobs.
Chemeketa’s day-to-day operations also make a substantial contribution to the regional economy. During FY 2023-24, the college employed 1,182 full- and part-time faculty and staff, 80% of whom lived in the three-county region. Chemeketa had a payroll of $97.8 million and spent another $58.3 million on facilities, supplies, and professional services. Together with the resulting economic activity, college operations added $116.8 million in regional income and supported 1,315 jobs.
Students themselves also contribute to the local economy. About 12% of Chemeketa's credit students came from outside the region, while other local students remained in the area because Chemeketa provided an educational option close to home. Spending by these relocated and retained students on housing, food, transportation, and other expenses added $17.7 million to the regional economy and supported 302 jobs.
The study also found a strong financial return for students who invest in a Chemeketa education. For every $1 students invest in tuition, supplies, and forgone earnings while attending college, they receive an estimated $7 in higher future earnings. The average annual rate of return for students is 21.6%.
An associate degree also translates into substantially higher earning potential. According to the analysis, the average Chemeketa associate degree graduate earns approximately $9,200 more each year than a person with a high school diploma or equivalent working in Oregon. Over a working lifetime, that difference amounts to an estimated $377,200 in additional earnings per graduate.
The benefits extend to taxpayers and the broader state economy. For every $1 of public money invested in Chemeketa, taxpayers receive an estimated $1.10 in return through increased tax revenue and public-sector savings. For every $1 invested in Chemeketa overall, Oregon society receives an estimated $5.90 in benefits through added income and social savings.
During the study year, Chemeketa served 12,632 credit students and 4,636 non-credit students. The findings demonstrate how those students, along with Chemeketa employees and alumni, contribute to the economic vitality of the region through workforce participation, consumer spending, increased business productivity and higher lifetime earnings.
The Lightcast study concludes that Chemeketa creates value from multiple perspectives by supplying trained workers to regional businesses, increasing students’ lifetime earnings, generating additional tax revenue and contributing to a stronger and more prosperous economy.
About the Study
The Lightcast analysis measures both Chemeketa’s direct economic activity and the long-term benefits generated for students, taxpayers, and society. The study uses Chemeketa’s FY 2023-24 academic and financial data, industry, and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau, Lightcast economic modeling, and research examining the relationship between education and economic and social outcomes.
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For more than 55 years, Chemeketa Community College has committed itself to transforming lives and our community through exceptional learning experiences in the Mid-Willamette Valley. As the second largest multi-campus district in Oregon, Chemeketa serves more than 18,000 students annually at its Salem and Yamhill Valley campuses, as well as Brooks, Eola, Winema, Dallas, Woodburn and Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry (CCBI).
Chemeketa Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educational institution.