Study Finds York Technical College Generates $285.9M in Annual Economic Impact
ROCK HILL, S.C. (Jan. 15, 2026) — A new independent economic impact study reveals
that York Technical College generates $285.9 million annually for the local economy,
supporting 1,648 jobs throughout the region.
The study, conducted by the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, examined the statewide impact of the South Carolina Technical College System. York Technical College’s institution-level findings highlight the college’s role in workforce development, job growth, and economic mobility in York County and surrounding communities.
According to the study, York Technical College generates approximately $86.9 million in labor income annually, driven by the higher wages earned by graduates and the local spending those wages create. The college’s alumni impact totals $183.5 million, reflecting long-term wage gains and broader economic benefits for the regional workforce.
Graduates of South Carolina’s technical colleges earn an estimated 52.8% higher long-term wage premium as a result of their credentials, the study found. As the number of college-educated workers increases, wages rise across the workforce—benefiting both college-educated and non-college-educated workers.
“This study confirms the impact we see every day,” said Dr. Stacey Moore, president of York Technical College. “Our graduates are filling critical workforce needs, earning higher wages, and directly contributing to the economic strength of our community.”
York Technical College enrolls 6,627 students annually, with its largest programs of study in health professions and related clinical sciences (20%), business, management, and marketing (10.9%), and mechanic and repair technologies (5.9%)—fields closely aligned with regional employer demand.
Statewide, more than 80% of technical college graduates remain employed in South Carolina one year after graduation, with nearly two-thirds still working in the state 10 years later, underscoring the system’s strong workforce retention.
York Technical College is one of 16 colleges in the South Carolina Technical College System and serves as a key driver of workforce readiness and economic growth in the region. For more information, visit yorktech.edu.
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About York Technical College
As a public, two-year institution, York Technical College offers associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates in over 100 programs of study, as well as an award-winning program that will allow you to transfer to a four-year institution. Founded in 1964 with just 60 students, York Technical College now welcomes between 5,000 to 7,000 credit students each year at its main campus in Rock Hill, South Carolina, as well as its off-campus center in Chester, South Carolina.
Media Contact: Amanda Kaufmann, Director of Strategic Communications and Marketing, York Technical College Email: AKaufmann@yorktech.edu Cell: 803-280-3242