"Alumni of Virginia’s community colleges added $10.6 billion in personal and business income to the state economy in fiscal year 2022, while operations by the colleges themselves added another $1 billion in economic activity, according to a study set to be released Monday.

The study, commissioned by the Virginia Community College System, makes the case that the benefits of the state’s 23 community colleges far outweigh their costs in large part because higher education leads to graduates and their employers earning more and therefore contributing more to the economy.

The study’s public release comes as VCCS is asking the Virginia General Assembly for $198.3 million in additional funding over the next two years. In fiscal year 2022, state and local government funding for Virginia’s community colleges totaled $605.5 million.

'The vast majority of our graduates stay and remain working in the commonwealth of Virginia,' David Doré, who has been chancellor of the Virginia Community College System since April 1, said in an interview. 'So really investing in the system is an investment long term in the commonwealth of Virginia,'" reports Cardinal News.

Photo: Central Virginia Community College in Lynchburg. Photo by Matt Busse.