Study Details De Anza’s $947 Million Economic Impact
A new economic impact report examines De Anza College’s benefits to students, Santa Clara County, taxpayers and California’s economy
CUPERTINO, Calif., September 22, 2026 — A new economic impact report finds that De Anza College generated an estimated $947 million in economic impact for Santa Clara County in FY 2024-25, including support for approximately 6,000 jobs.
Students See Higher Lifetime Earnings
The report estimates that De Anza students will receive higher future earnings than workers with a high school diploma or equivalent.
For example, the average De Anza associate degree graduate from FY 2024-25 is projected
to earn nearly $15,000 more annually and more than $600,000 more over a working lifetime.
$947 Million in County Economic Impact
De Anza’s economic impact in Santa Clara County includes college operations, student spending and the economic effect of alumni.
The report estimates a total economic impact of $947 million, with 6,000 jobs supported.
Benefits for Taxpayers and California
The report estimates that FY 2024-25 students will generate $401 million in added state and local tax revenue by the end of their working lives.
For every dollar of public money invested in De Anza, the report projects that taxpayers will receive a cumulative value of $3.
In California, the report estimates that the social benefits of De Anza come to nearly $5 billion and calculates a 14.6 benefit-cost ratio for society — in other words, for every dollar invested in De Anza, people in California will receive a cumulative value of $14.60 in benefits.
The study reflects FY 2024–25 employee, student and financial data provided by the Foothill-De Anza Community College District. The analysis uses industry and employment data from sources including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau and Lightcast's economic impact model.
Read the Full Findings
Find these resources on the Foothill-De Anza Community College District Economic Impact Study page:
- Economic Impact Study — Executive summary and detailed overview
- Fact Sheet — Three-page summary of key findings
(Posted on September 28, 2026)