High-Demand Fields
For Fiscal Year 2025
The list of high-demand fields for FY 25 is based on a new methodology that better represents the variety of occupations in our complex economy and the specific needs of each unique region.
The Board-approved lists of high-demand fields for credentials conferred in FY23 and FY24-25 are located here: CCF25 High-Demand Fields for FY23-25 Credentials.xlsx.
It begins by ranking groups of occupations (defined at the four-digit SOC level) by the total statewide number of new jobs projected over the next ten years by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This total generally includes only the occupations within the group where entry requires education, training, or certain types of licensure after high school but less than a bachelor’s degree. All occupations within the top ten occupation groups that meet the education/training criteria are statewide high-demand occupations.
The method then does the same ranking for each of Texas’ twelve economic regions (as defined by the Texas Comptroller). All qualifying occupations within the top five occupation groups on a region’s list after excluding the groups that appear on the statewide top-ten list are the high-demand occupations for that region.
An institution’s region is determined by the Comptroller region where its main campus is located. Initial regional assignments, which are in effect starting in FY25, can be found in the High-Demand Fields Excel file linked below. Starting in FY25, an institution may request to switch to a neighboring region that overlaps with its service area by emailing CCFinance@highered.texas.gov. If granted, a reassignment request would take effect for the following fiscal year (e.g., a reassignment granted in FY25 would take effect for FY26 funding). Once reassigned, an institution must remain within that region for at least four years.
Each college’s high-demand occupations consist of the high-demand occupations from the statewide list and from the list for the region where its main campus is located. A “SOC-CIP crosswalk,” created jointly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Department of Education, provides a list of all the academic fields that prepare students for each occupation. If an academic field prepares students for a high-demand occupation according to this crosswalk, then it is a high-demand field, and credentials conferred in that field are eligible for the high-demand fields funding rate.
FY25 funding for credentials in high-demand fields will consider credentials conferred in FY23, FY24, and FY25. Initial funding amounts will be based on credentials awarded in FY23 and trendline projection amounts for FY24 and FY25, and funding amounts will be adjusted through the settle-up process as FY24 and FY25 credential data becomes available.
The FY23 list determines which credentials are in high-demand fields for FY18-23, which affects the forecasted counts of high-demand credential forecasts for FY24 and FY25. The FY24-25 list will determine which credentials are in high-demand fields when actual data from those years replaces the forecasts.
Emerging and Essential Occupations
There are separate processes by which occupations not selected through the standard methodology can be identified as high-demand occupations and have their associated academic fields recognized as high-demand fields. One, the Essential Occupations process, will allow an institution to petition for additional occupations that have particular importance for its regional economy or community. This process will open in the spring of 2025; please stay tuned for more information.
For Fiscal Year 2024
The list of high-demand fields for FY 24 was assembled from a list of the 25 occupations that provide at least a median wage, require education or training beyond high school but below a bachelor’s degree, and are projected to experience the most growth in each of the 10 higher education regions. These 25 occupations are based on data from the Texas Workforce Commission. The list also includes occupations that appear in at least seven of the 10 regional lists or in any region’s top five. Every academic field associated with those occupations was added to the list of high-demand fields.
High-demand fields combine the critical fields under the legacy student success points system with additional fields determined through the new methodology described above.
| FY 2024 Community College Formula Funding: High-Demand Fields | |
| Fundable credentials of value in the following CIP codes qualify for the “high-demand” bonus in the performance tier – Updated 6/26/23 | |
| CIP Code | Field |
| 11 | Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services |
| 14 | Engineering |
| 15 | Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians |
| 27 | Mathematics and Statistics |
| 40 | Physical Sciences |
| 0101 | Agricultural Business Management |
| 0102 | Agricultural Mechanization |
| 0302 | Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy |
| 1302 | Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education |
| 1312 | Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods |
| 1314 | Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language |
| 1907 | Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services |
| 2200 | Non-Professional Legal Studies |
| 2203 | Legal Support Services |
| 3001 | Biological and Physical Sciences |
| 4102 | Nuclear and Industrial Radiologic Technologies/Technicians |
| 4103 | Physical Science Technologies/Technicians2 |
| 4302 | Fire Protection |
| 4604 | Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection |
| 4701 | Electrical/Electronics Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians |
| 4702 | Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation, and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) |
| 4703 | Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians2 |
| 4706 | Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies |
| 4707 | Energy Systems Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians |
| 4902 | Ground Transportation |
| 5102 | Communication Disorders Sciences and Services |
| 5106 | Dental Support Services and Allied Professions |
| 5107 | Health and Medical Administrative Services |
| 5108 | Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services |
| 5109 | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions |
| 5110 | Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions |
| 5118 | Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions |
| 5123 | Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions |
| 5126 | Health Aides/Attendants/Orderlies |
| 5127 | Medical Illustration and Informatics |
| 5131 | Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services |
| 5132 | Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities |
| 5133 | Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems |
| 5134 | Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Services |
| 5138 | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research, and Clinical Nursing |
| 5139 | Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing, and Nursing Assistants |
| 5203 | Accounting and Related Services |
