MiraCosta College Raises $10.6 Million and Releases Economic Impact Report at the Community Leaders Breakfast

MiraCosta College today announced that it raised $10.6 million as part of its This Changes Everything campaign. This five-year fundraising initiative will help thousands of students accomplish their dreams. In addition, the school released the latest Economic Impact Report (access full report), which revealed that MiraCosta College had a $648 million impact in the region during the fiscal year between 2021 and 2022, equivalent to hosting the World Series 100 times.

“The return on investment in community college is unparalleled. For every dollar invested in MiraCosta College, people in California will receive $7.00, a 700% return on investment, shared Dr. Sunita “Sunny” Cooke, superintendent/president of MiraCosta Community College. “Not only does our college create better pathways for students from all backgrounds, but it uplifts our entire region and economy. MiraCosta College serves as a pathway to social and economic advancement for students to pursue higher education.”

The Economic Impact Report, which analyzed the fiscal year between 2021 and 2022 and was conducted by analytics company Lightcast, found that the net impact of MiraCosta College students who have entered or re-entered the workforce amounted to $469.1 million in added income annually. 

The report, announced at the annual Community Leaders Breakfast in front of more than 350 business and community leaders, elected officials, and MiraCosta staff and partners, capped off a significant period in the school’s history.

In addition to releasing the Economic Impact Report, Dave McGuigan, president of the MiraCosta College Foundation, announced the Foundation raised $10.6 million as part of a five-year fundraising campaign aptly titled This Changes Everything. The campaign, which had a $10 million goal, was supported by thousands of local philanthropists, corporations, foundations, and organizations. 

“Shortly before the Pandemic, the MiraCosta College Foundation launched its first-ever Comprehensive Campaign to support the many programs we offer our students. We thank the thousands of donors who contributed to our comprehensive campaign.

Nearly half of all MiraCosta College students who enroll annually come from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. The $10.6 million helps ensure that each student has an opportunity to excel and pursue a career in the local workforce. Since the campaign began, more than 5,000 students have received scholarships to help offset the cost of college, and an additional 5,200 students have received emergency financial support for basic needs, such as food scarcity, transportation, and housing.

“The scholarships and financial support this funding will provide will be life-changing for our students, and we could not have done it without the generosity of our community,” expands McGuigan.

Also, at the Community Leaders Breakfast, Genentech received recognition as the Philanthropist of the Year award. Established in 2012, the award honors individuals and organizations for their philanthropic spirit, commitment to giving, and impact on the community.

For years, Genentech has used philanthropic support dollars to help remove systemic barriers to careers in science and medicine. The company focuses on creating impact at the undergraduate level by granting to programs and schools that are helping diversify the scientific and medical workforce, advance health equity, and help communities thrive. In addition to donating equipment, hosting student events, and providing scholarships, Genentech has a robust internship program that creates a career pipeline for MiraCosta College biotechnology to succeed.