Facts You Should Know
Why Build The SCTEC? Why Now?
The Collective believes that the return on investment (ROI) would be many times greater than the cost of instruction and the ongoing cost of operations. Career and Technical Education programs have a history of excellent Return on Investment (ROI) for taxpayers.
The Collective’s research concludes that, on average, every $1 invested in CTE realizes about $6 in ROI to local communities and Illinois. Based on that equation, we estimate that the SCTEC would have a $600,000,000 impact on the local economies and Illinois.
- Stackable Credentials: SCTEC learners can earn certificates, credentials and licenses while simultaneously earning their high school diploma or other degree. For example: A Manufacturing Trades program graduate could potentially earn NIMS® certification, OSHA safety certifications, HazCom soft technical skill, postsecondary dual credit and a high school diploma.
- The typical median salary for a high school diploma holder is $30,000.
With added SCTEC hands-on, minds-on and technology-focused learning it is $42,000/year. (not including any stackable credential earnings).
Investing in CTE has yielded big ROI for other state economies
CALIFORNIA: Individuals who receive a certificate or degree from California Community College almost double their earnings within three years.
COLORADO: Community College System alumni in the workforce contribute $5.1 billion annually to the state economy.
FLORIDA: Students awarded articulated college credit for earning an industry certification save on tuition at Florida State Colleges: About $300 per certification, on average, for Volusia County students.
IOWA: Students who attended Community Colleges in Fiscal Year 2014-15 are expected to grow the state’s economy by almost $15 billion over the course of their working lives.
MARYLAND: Howard Community College contributes about $338 million annually to the local community.
OKLAHOMA: State economy reaps a net benefit of $3.5 billion annually from graduates of the Career Tech System.
PENNSYLVANIA: Students earn $6 for every dollar they spend on their education at Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County Community College.
TENNESSEE: CTE returns $2 for every $1 invested. At the secondary level, CTE program completers account for more than $13 million in annual tax revenues.
WASHINGTON: For every dollar invested in secondary CTE programs, taxpayers receive a $9 ROI. CTE students leads to $26 in lifetime earnings and employee benefits.
WISCONSIN: Taxpayers receive $12.20 in benefits for every dollar invested in the technical college system.
Jobs and Skills Recovery Post-Pandemic
LABOR MARKET INFORMATION (LMI)
To assess the viability of any career center offering, the following LMI data–current and projected job openings––were researched. Selected job titles in each SCTEC program are shown.
(Data collected October 2024)
