Blinn College District

Economic Impact Study

The Economic Value of the Blinn College District at RELLIS

Executive Summary

Economic Impact and Investment Analysis Fiscal Year 2018–19

Overview

Introduction

The Blinn College District at RELLIS (Blinn at RELLIS) creates value in many ways. The campus plays a key role in helping students increase their employability and achieve their individual potential.

The campus draws students to Brazos County, generating new dollars and opportunities for the county. Blinn at RELLIS provides students with the education, training, and skills they need to have fulfilling and prosperous careers.

Blinn at RELLIS also provides students a place to meet new people, increase their self-confidence, and promote their overall health and well-being.

The campus influences both the lives of its students and the county economy. It supports a variety of industries in Brazos County, serves county businesses, and benefits society throughout Texas through an expanded economy and improved quality of life.

The benefits created by Blinn at RELLIS also extend to state government through increased tax revenues and public-sector savings.

This study measures the economic impacts created by Blinn at RELLIS on the business community and the benefits generated in return for investments made by students, taxpayers, and society.

  • Economic impact analysis
  • Investment analysis

Results reflect employee, student, and financial data provided by the Blinn College District for fiscal year 2018–19. Economic impacts are measured as added income to the Brazos County economy. Investment returns are reported for students, taxpayers, and society in Texas.

Brazos County Economy

Economic Impact Analysis

Blinn at RELLIS promotes economic growth in Brazos County through its direct expenditures and the resulting expenditures of students and county businesses.

The campus serves as an employer and buyer of goods and services for day-to-day and construction operations. Its activities attract students from outside Brazos County, whose expenditures benefit county vendors.

Blinn at RELLIS also provides higher education to Brazos County residents and supplies trained workers to county industries, enhancing overall productivity in the workforce.

Impacts Created by Blinn at RELLIS in FY 2018–19

$7.9 million
Operations spending impact
$658.7 thousand
Construction spending impact
$1.6 million
Student spending impact
$41.7 thousand
Alumni impact
$10.2 million
Total impact
114
Jobs supported

Operations Spending Impact

In FY 2018–19, Blinn at RELLIS employed 28 full-time and part-time faculty and staff, 64% of whom lived in Brazos County.

Total payroll was $5.4 million, much of which was spent in the county on groceries, mortgage and rent payments, dining, and other household expenses.

The campus also spent $3.5 million on day-to-day expenses related to facilities, supplies, and professional services.

Day-to-day operations added $7.9 million in income to Brazos County, equivalent to supporting 61 jobs.

Construction Spending Impact

Blinn at RELLIS invests in construction to maintain its facilities, create additional capacity, and meet growing educational demands.

In FY 2018–19, construction spending generated $658.7 thousand in added income, equivalent to supporting 11 jobs.

Student Spending Impact

Approximately 91% of students attending Blinn at RELLIS originated from outside Brazos County in FY 2018–19.

Relocated and retained students spent money on groceries, accommodations, transportation, and other household expenses throughout the county.

Their spending generated $1.6 million in added income and supported 41 jobs.

Alumni Impact

Blinn at RELLIS opened in 2018, so its alumni impact was still developing during the analysis year.

In FY 2018–19, former students working in Brazos County generated $41.7 thousand in added income.

This impact is projected to grow as more students attend Blinn at RELLIS and enter the county workforce.

Total Impact

Blinn at RELLIS added $10.2 million in income to the Brazos County economy during the analysis year.

This impact was approximately 0.1% of Brazos County's gross regional product and supported 114 county jobs.

Blinn at RELLIS Impacts by Industry

Jobs supported in selected non-education industries during FY 2018–19.

Industry impact data
Industry Jobs supported
Accommodation & Food Services 28
Construction 22
Retail Trade 13
Health Care & Social Assistance 8
Other Services (except Public Administration) 4

Return on Investment

Investment Analysis

The investment analysis considers Blinn at RELLIS as an investment from the perspectives of students, taxpayers, and society in Texas.

Student Perspective

In FY 2018–19, Blinn at RELLIS served 2,031 credit students and 14 non-credit students.

The students' total investment amounted to a present value of $17 million, including $5.1 million in out-of-pocket expenses and $11.9 million in forgone time and money.

In return, those students are projected to receive $69.9 million in higher future earnings over their working careers.

The average Blinn at RELLIS associate degree graduate from FY 2018–19 will see annual earnings approximately $9,800 higher than a person with a high school diploma or equivalent working in Texas.

Student Return on Investment

14.2% Average annual return for Blinn at RELLIS students
4.1 Student benefit-cost ratio
$4.10 Higher future earnings received for every $1 invested

Student Perspective

$69.9 million
Present value benefits
$17 million
Present value costs
$52.9 million
Net present value
Benefit-cost ratio 4.1
Rate of return 14.2%

Taxpayer Perspective

$20.4 million
Present value benefits
$2.8 million
Present value costs
$17.6 million
Net present value
Benefit-cost ratio 7.2
Rate of return 16.1%

Social Perspective

$297.6 million
Present value benefits
$23.5 million
Present value costs
$274.1 million
Net present value
Benefit-cost ratio 12.7
Rate of return N/A

Taxpayer Perspective

Blinn at RELLIS generates more in tax revenue than it takes. The state government is projected to collect a present value of $18.4 million in added taxes over the working lives of FY 2018–19 students.

Improved student lifestyles also are projected to generate $2 million in savings related to healthcare, crime, and income assistance.

Total taxpayer benefits amount to $20.4 million, compared with $2.8 million in taxpayer costs.

For every dollar of public money invested in Blinn at RELLIS, taxpayers are projected to receive $7.20 over the students' working lives.

Social Perspective

Social Benefits in Texas from Blinn at RELLIS

Total present-value benefits to society.

The social benefits include increased lifetime earnings and business output as well as savings related to health, crime, and income assistance.

For every dollar invested in Blinn at RELLIS, people in Texas are projected to receive a cumulative value of $12.70 in benefits.

Summary

Conclusion

The results of this study demonstrate that Blinn at RELLIS creates value from multiple perspectives.

The campus benefits county businesses by increasing consumer spending and supplying a steady flow of qualified, trained workers.

Blinn at RELLIS enriches students' lives by increasing their lifetime earnings and helping them achieve their individual potential.

The campus benefits state taxpayers through increased tax receipts and reduced demand for government-supported social services.

Finally, Blinn at RELLIS benefits society throughout Texas by contributing to a more prosperous economy and generating savings associated with improved lifestyles.

About the Study

Data and assumptions used in the study are based on several sources, including the Blinn College District's FY 2018–19 academic and financial reports, industry and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau, outputs from Emsi's Multi-Regional Social Accounting Matrix model, and studies and surveys relating education to social behavior.

The study applies a conservative methodology and follows standard practice using recognized indicators of economic impact and investment effectiveness.

Fact Sheet

At a Glance

Key economic and investment findings from the FY 2018–19 analysis.

  • $10.2 million Total income added to the Brazos County economy.
  • 114 Brazos County jobs supported.
  • $4.10 Higher future earnings students receive for every $1 invested.
  • $7.20 Value returned to taxpayers for every $1 invested.
  • $12.70 Value returned to society for every $1 invested.
  • 14.2% Average annual rate of return for Blinn at RELLIS students.
  • 16.1% Average annual rate of return for taxpayers.
  • 91% Students who originated from outside Brazos County in FY 2018–19.