As conversations about economic growth, workforce readiness, and community well-being continue, South Florida State College (SFSC) is consistently tied to organizations and corporations throughout the region.
According to a recent economic impact study examining fiscal year 2023–24, SFSC contributed $210.3 million in added income to the regional economy, which is equal to 4% of the area’s total gross regional product. To put that into perspective, one out of every 24 jobs in the region is supported by the activities of SFSC, its students, or its alumni.
This impact is not just anecdotal; it is evident in paychecks, positions, and career pathways across the region.
The Power of Alumni
The greatest economic contribution of SFSC comes from its alumni. Former students employed in the region generated $169.9 million in added income in a single year, supporting 2,216 jobs. SFSC’s alumni are nurses, technicians, first responders, educators, and skilled professionals, who residents interact with every day and whose education translates directly into production benefits and higher earnings for local industries.
Beyond alumni impact, SFSC’s day-to-day operations play a significant role in sustaining the local economy. The College employs 513 faculty and staff, with 82% living within the service area, ensuring that salaries are reinvested locally, supporting local businesses and community initiatives. The combined payroll and operational spending added $35.2 million to the regional economy.
Current students also contribute in a meaningful and valuable way, with 14% of SFSC students relocating to the area to attend the College, bringing new dollars into local communities through housing, food, transportation, and everyday expenses. Student spending added $5.2 million to the regional economy and supported 84 additional jobs.
Lucrative Futures
For students, the value proposition of SFSC is clear and measurable. Graduates who earned an associate degree in fiscal year 2023–24 will earn $6,200 more per year on average than peers with only a high school diploma. Over a working lifetime, that difference amounts to $260,400 in additional earnings per graduate.
When viewed as an investment, the return is staggering. For every $1 students invest in tuition, books, and income they temporarily set aside while investing in their education, they receive $7.50 in higher future earnings. The average annual rate of return for students is 22.9%, which is more than double the average for traditional long-term investment benchmarks. Students who invest in themselves strengthen not only their own futures, but the future of the communities they call home.
Benefits to Taxpayers
The benefits of SFSC extend well beyond individual students. From a taxpayer perspective, the College generates more value than it costs. Over the working lives of its students, SFSC produces $42 million in combined tax revenue and public-sector savings, exceeding the $38.2 million in state funding it received.
At the societal level, the return is even more pronounced. The study estimates $607.6 million in total social benefits statewide, driven by higher lifetime earnings, increased business output, and reduced public costs related to healthcare, the criminal justice system, and income assistance. For every $1 spent by the College and its students, society gains $9.40 in benefits. In addition, when the public invests $1 in the College, they receive $1.10 back, so SFSC generates more value than it consumes.
More Than a College
These statistics tell an impressive story, but they only begin to explain SFSC’s role within the Heartland of Florida. The College is not simply an educational institution; it is an economic stabilizer, a talent pipeline, and a force multiplier for community prosperity. The strength of SFSC is currently felt by the 2,927 jobs across the region that are supported by the College.
At a time when Florida, like much of the nation, faces workforce shortages, demographic shifts, and economic uncertainty, South Florida State College stands as an inspiring solution. The region suffers from low attainment rates, with Highlands County ranked at 38 of the 67 counties, Hardee at 64, and DeSoto at 65, so the work continues. SFSC’s impact is measurable, its return on investment is undeniable, and its influence reaches far beyond the classroom.
SFSC’s mission is to develop human potential and create brighter futures, but its true impact cannot be confined to a single student or a single campus. The College is strengthening the region and revealing that education works best when it connects people, ideas, and opportunity. Within DeSoto, Hardee, and Highlands counties, the data reveals the influence of education on the economy, and the potential exists to further improve the imprint the College has on Florida’s Heartland.
