A two-year credential pays off at $10,700 more per year in earnings at career midpoint compared to a high school diploma alone, according to a Lightcast Economic Impact Study commissioned by Portland Community College.

The statewide figure is relevant to Bethany, Cedar Mill, and Oak Hills residents served by PCC Rock Creek, the 260-acre Washington County campus at 17705 NW Springville Road that enrolls roughly 20,000 students per year, according to PCC's campus profile.

The study, based on fiscal year 2023-24 data, found PCC contributes $2.7 billion in added income to the regional economy annually. The college and its students support 25,097 jobs across its service area, equal to one out of every 58 jobs in the region.

The largest share comes from alumni. Their increased earnings and contributions to the businesses that employ them generate $2.2 billion in added income, according to the study.

Acting PCC President Dr. Katy Ho, who took the role in May, said the college's impact extends beyond earnings to workforce development across the region. PCC served 35,213 credit students and 18,339 non-credit students in FY 2023-24, employing 2,575 people across its campuses.

The earnings comparison is statewide, not PCC-specific: an associate degree holder in Oregon earns an average of $53,600 annually at career midpoint, while a high school diploma holder earns $42,900.

For students investing tuition dollars, the return-on-investment math is concrete. Every $1 a student puts into PCC yields $4.10 in higher lifetime earnings, the study found. Taxpayers see $1.90 back in added tax revenue and public-sector savings. Society overall gains $7.20 in added income and social savings per dollar invested.

About 66 percent of Rock Creek students enroll in the college transfer program, meaning a PCC start can lead to a four-year degree at lower cost. Another 18 percent pursue career and technical programs, including aviation maintenance, veterinary technology, microelectronics, and building construction.

The campus also houses PCC's recently renovated Health Technology Building, a bond-funded $37 million project that modernized 66,000 square feet of training space for nursing, medical imaging, and other healthcare fields.

Stephen Zeller, a PCC pre-nursing student with a 4.0 GPA and oncology experience at Oregon Health & Science University, said in a college profile that PCC gave him direction. "It is helping me build a life I once believed was impossible," Zeller said.

Families can browse Rock Creek fall classes at pcc.edu/schedule by selecting "Rock Creek Campus" as the location filter. The admissions application deadline is Wednesday, September 9. Classes begin Monday, September 21, and the late add/drop deadline is Tuesday, September 29. The 12-week term ends Sunday, December 13.