Lightcast analysis shows $180M in added income, 2,585 jobs supported in 2023–24; strong returns to students, taxpayers and society

A new economic impact study shows Mid-State Technical College delivers significant value to students, taxpayers and the central Wisconsin economy. The analysis, conducted by Lightcast, a leading provider of labor market data and economic impact studies, found a strong net-positive return on investment and long-term benefits across the Mid-State district.

According to the study, Mid-State added $180 million in income to the economies of Adams, Portage and Wood counties during the 2023–24 analysis year and supported 2,585 regional jobs—approximately one out of every 40 jobs in the district. The College’s impact represented about 1.8 percent of the district’s gross regional product (GRP), comparable in scale to the region’s entire administrative and waste services industry.

“This new report is a powerful testament to the benefits Mid-State generates in return for the investments made by students, local taxpayers and all district residents,” said Dr. Shelly Mondeik, president of Mid-State Technical College.

The Lightcast study also highlights the strong return students receive on their educational investment. Students collectively invested $23.9 million (present value) in tuition, books, supplies and foregone earnings and are projected to gain $147.1 million in higher lifetime earnings. This equates to a $6.20 return for every dollar invested, with an annual rate of return of 22.3 percent.

“Mid-State offers our students a fantastic value during their studies,” Dr. Mondeik added, “but we also offer our students a pathway to higher incomes throughout their lifetimes, which in turn benefits their families, their employers and our communities.”

In addition to student benefits, the study shows Mid-State provides substantial returns to taxpayers and society. The College generates more tax revenue than it receives, resulting in increased state and local revenues and public-sector savings. For every tax dollar invested in educating Mid-State students, taxpayers receive an average of $1.60 over the course of students’ working lives—an annual rate of return of 3.2 percent. At the societal level, every $1 invested yields $7.90 in benefits to Wisconsin through increased earnings, higher business output and improved life outcomes.

The Lightcast analysis evaluated added income generated through College operations, student spending and alumni productivity, along with returns to students, taxpayers and society. Data sources included Mid-State’s 2023–24 academic and financial reports, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau data, Lightcast’s multi-regional economic modeling and national research linking education to economic and social outcomes.