In 1996, the University completed "A Study of the Socioeconomic Impact of Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on the Corpus Christi MSA." Excerpts from that scholarly investigation included here give insight into the University's total economic impact on the community. In 1995, the economic activity of the University translated into a total economic impact of $199 million of personal income in the local economy. Each 1,000 new students enrolled at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi could add $14.9 million to total University-related spending, $38.6 million to local personal income and create 301 new jobs. University employees contributed more than 280,000 hours as volunteers for 256 organizations in a single year. A&M-Corpus Christi receives 90 percent of its income from outside the Corpus Christi area, excluding tuition and fees paid by local students. This represents new money injected into the area's economy. Student spending by those who live in the area solely to attend A&M-Corpus Christi and those who would have otherwise attended college and spent money elsewhere injects over $24 million per year into the economy. University employees spent over $1.5 million per month in 1995, and account for 546 direct jobs. Total University spending induces another 740 jobs for a total of 1,286 jobs within the community. A&M-Corpus Christi is nearing completion of over $120 million in campus-related construction since 1990. Currently under construction on campus is the new $14 million, 100,000-square-foot University Center.

South Texas and our Coastal Bend area have lower high school graduation rates than both Texas and the nation. If we could increase our high school graduation rate 1 percent, there is a potential $12 million annual wage and salary gain in our local community. If our high school graduation rates were as high as the nation's, it would mean an additional $84 million in direct wages. Our Early Childhood Development Center and many of our "Partnerships for Kids" programs focus on this mission.