Phoenix-area community colleges seek return of funding as importance grows

By Stacy Mantle
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Students, faculty and leaders from Maricopa County Community Colleges gathered April 15 at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza to highlight the system’s role in workforce development, college access and economic growth.

The event coincided with Gov. Katie Hobbs proclaiming April as Arizona Community College Month, aligning with a national campaign emphasizing community colleges as both an entry point to higher education and a career accelerator.

Community colleges play a "critical role" in expanding opportunity, strengthening the workforce and driving economic growth, Hobbs said in the proclamation.

The visit to the Capitol was about seeking more recognition for the schools, including more funding.

"Maricopa Community Colleges is the No. 1 choice of Arizonans, yet the state has not invested in our operating aid for over a decade," said Maricopa Community Colleges Chancellor Dr. Steven R. Gonzales. "At a time when Arizona is experiencing unprecedented economic growth, restoring this operating aid is essential to the state’s future.”

Workforce pathways on display

Across the Capitol lawn, representatives from the district’s 10 colleges showcased programs aligned to Arizona’s workforce needs, including health care, construction trades, semiconductor training, public safety and adult education.

Colleges also highlighted specialized programs designed to meet niche industry demands. Scottsdale Community College featured its equine science program — the only comprehensive degree of its kind in the state, while Chandler-Gilbert Community College spotlighted its Unmanned Aircraft Systems program, preparing students for careers in drone operations and aviation technology.

Several colleges also promoted bachelor’s degree pathways and short-term credential programs aimed at accelerating entry into the workforce.

"Our program has very extensive clinical practice requirements," said Julisa Ochoa, radiologic technology student at GateWay Community College. "I would say the college has done a really good job at partnering with hospitals that value students and really want to work with students. I think the college communicates well with them and provides us with a lot of guidance to prepare for the workforce and I feel like my clinical experience was very positive."

Funding gap shapes the conversation

Despite being one of the largest college systems in the state, Maricopa Community Colleges do not receive the standard, ongoing funding most community colleges get from their state governments. 

“Since the Great Recession, the district has gone without an estimated $655 million in operating aid,” MCCC said in a press release. Nationally, state funding accounts for roughly one-third of community college revenue, based on analysis from the American Association of Community Colleges.

Instead, Maricopa Community Colleges rely primarily on property taxes and tuition and fees, a structure leaders say creates long-term challenges for stability and affordability.

“We cannot effectively scale the workforce of tomorrow on yesterday’s depleted funding models,” said Gonzales.

Economic engine with statewide impact

The system’s funding concerns are closely tied to its economic role in the region.

A recent economic impact analysis found Maricopa Community Colleges contributes nearly $9 billion in income to Maricopa County’s economy. The system supports one out of every 30 jobs across the Valley, with alumni generating more than $7 billion in economic impact during the 2023–24 fiscal year.

“Each year, we educate more than 140,000 learners, a vast majority of whom go on to lead and serve across the Valley,” said Gonzales.  “The impact we have on Maricopa County is clear, which is why we are seeking a sustained investment in our system’s future, so that we can continue to do what we do best: offer the most affordable access point to high-quality, postsecondary education in Arizona.”

Those figures underscore the system’s role in preparing workers for high-demand sectors as Arizona continues to expand in industries such as advanced manufacturing, healthcare and technology.

Push for long-term investment

System leaders are now advocating for a phased, four-year restoration of operating aid, positioning it as a step toward aligning Arizona with national funding models while maintaining affordability for students.

The proposal comes as lawmakers continue broader discussions around education funding, workforce development and the state’s long-term economic strategy.

While legislators attended and engaged with program leaders, few public statements were issued during the event, reflecting its role as a showcase.

For district leaders, the message at the Capitol centered on sustainability: maintaining access, supporting workforce needs and ensuring community colleges remain a viable pathway for Arizona students.

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.