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Arapahoe County – Colleges/Universities 2023-2024

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Universities play a crucial role in shaping local economies by driving employment, fostering business growth, attracting investment, and enhancing the overall quality of life in their host communities. Their economic impact extends beyond direct spending to include long-term benefits such as workforce development, innovation, and cultural enrichment. Below, we explore the key ways in which a university influences a local economy.

  1. Direct Employment and Spending A university is often one of the largest employers in a local area, providing jobs for faculty, administrative staff, maintenance workers, and other professionals. These employees spend their salaries on housing, groceries, transportation, and entertainment, injecting money into the local economy. Additionally, universities spend significant amounts on construction, utilities, and local services, further stimulating business activity.

    Students also contribute to local spending. Many bring outside money into the community through tuition payments, federal aid, and personal expenditures on rent, food, and retail. A large student population can sustain businesses such as bookstores, coffee shops, restaurants, and housing providers.

  2. Business Development and Entrepreneurship Universities often serve as hubs for innovation and entrepreneurship. Research institutions, business incubators, and technology transfer offices help commercialize academic research, leading to startup formation and industry partnerships. For example, Stanford University's role in Silicon Valley's growth demonstrates how academic institutions can spur regional economic development.

    Local businesses benefit from university partnerships, including procurement contracts for supplies, catering, and maintenance services. Furthermore, universities attract conferences, sporting events, and cultural activities that generate tourism revenue for hotels, restaurants, and transportation services.

  3. Human Capital and Workforce Development A well-educated workforce is essential for economic competitiveness. Universities produce graduates with specialized skills that attract high-paying industries, such as technology, healthcare, and finance. Many graduates remain in the area, filling critical roles in local businesses and government.

    Universities also offer continuing education programs, professional certifications, and workforce training initiatives that help upskill local employees, making the regional labor market more adaptable to industry changes.

  4. Real Estate and Infrastructure Growth The presence of a university can drive demand for housing, both from students and faculty. This often leads to the development of new apartments, condominiums, and mixed-use commercial spaces. Over time, universities contribute to urban revitalization by investing in campus expansions, public transit improvements, and community amenities like libraries and parks.

    However, rapid growth can also lead to challenges, such as rising housing costs and gentrification, which may displace long-term residents. Local governments must balance economic expansion with policies that ensure affordable housing and equitable development.

  5. Cultural and Social Contributions Beyond economics, universities enrich local culture through arts programs, public lectures, and athletic events. These activities improve residents' quality of life, making the area more attractive to businesses and skilled workers. A vibrant university town often sees increased property values and a more diverse, engaged community.


Conclusion

The economic impact of a university on a local economy is multifaceted, encompassing job creation, business growth, talent development, and infrastructure investment. While challenges such as affordability and displacement must be managed, the long-term benefits-including innovation, increased tax revenues, and a more dynamic workforce-make universities vital engines of regional prosperity. By fostering collaboration between academia, government, and industry, communities can maximize these advantages while ensuring inclusive growth.
 
Platt College-Aurora
Pima Medical Institute-Aurora  
Taft University System  
Pima Medical Institute-Denver  
Denver Seminary  
Denver College of Nursing  
Rocky Vista University  
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design  
Regis University  
Red Rocks Community College  
Colorado School of Mines  
Community College of Denver  
Colorado Christian University  
Community College of Aurora  
Colorado State University Global  
University of Denver  
Arapahoe Community College  
Metropolitan State University of Denver  
Front Range Community College  
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus  
Percent admitted - total
Admissions yield - total

Full-time enrollment
Part-time enrollment

Total  enrollment
% White
% Black
% Asian
% Hispanic
% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
% American Indian or Alaska Native
% two or more races
% Race/ethnicity unknown
% U.S. Nonresident

Undergraduate enrollment
% under 18
% 18-24
% 25-64
% over 65

Graduate enrollment

Student-to-faculty ratio

Tuition and fees, 2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24

Total price for
In-district students living on campus  2023-24
In-state students living on campus 2023-24
Out-of-state students living on campus 2023-24

In-district students living off campus (no family)  2023-24
In-state students living off campus (no family)  2023-24
Out-of-state students living off campus (no family)  2023-24

In-district students living off campus (w/ family)  2023-24
In-state students living off campus (w/ family)  2023-24
Out-of-state students living off campus (w/ family)  2023-24

Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practice
Doctor's degree - other

Instructional FTE
Research FTE
Public Service FTE
Librarians, Curators, and Archivists FTE
Student/Academic Affairs and Other Education Services FTE
Management FTE
Business and Financial Operations FTE
Computer, Engineering, and Science FTE
Community Service, Legal, Arts, and Media FTE
Healthcare FTE
Service FTE
Sales and Related FTE
Office and Administrative Support FTE
Natural Resources, Construction, and Maintenance FTE
Production, Transportation, and Material Moving FTE
Total FTE staff
78
14

12,338
11,071

23,409
49
5
9
21
0
0
5
2
8

14,027
21
60
19
0

9,382

16

9,401
9,384
9,562
10,017


32,823
32,823
51,015

32,582
32,582
50,774

17,903
17,903
36,095

0
2,559
2,365
188
527
0

5,548
914
182
41
379
1,516
642
2,248
124
1,830
189
0
441
123
40
14,217
NA
NA

4,437
16,659

21,096
58
2
4
26
0
1
4
4
2

21,096
41
38
21
0

0

22

4,032
4,032
4,126
4,740


NA
NA
NA

28,765
28,765
40,999

13,915
13,915
26,149

1,920
17
0
0
0
0

497
0
0
6
103
61
87
35
69
0
34
3
91
11
2
999
99
17

9,985
7,608

17,593
44
7
4
36
0
1
5
1
1

16,430
17
53
29
0

1,163

14

8,693
10,021
10,260
10,780


NA
NA
NA

33,039
33,039
51,762

18,189
18,189
36,912

0
2,689
411
0
0
0

870
0
0
0
74
49
122
47
96
5
0
0
497
1
0
1,761
NA
NA

2,524
11,454

13,978
64
3
4
16
0
0
5
6
1

13,978
49
33
18
0

0

25

4,027
4,027
4,080
4,308


NA
NA
NA

27,613
27,613
39,847

12,763
12,763
24,997

847
33
0
0
0
0

253
0
0
3
78
59
38
18
0
0
22
0
38
8
1
518
71
11

8,554
4,833

13,387
64
5
4
13
0
0
5
2
6

6,415
0
91
8
0

6,972

10

53,775
54,819
56,439
59,340


80,536
80,536
80,536

80,536
80,536
80,536

63,487
63,487
63,487

0
1,278
2,830
128
307
0

1,017
20
0
45
101
395
521
160
213
18
163
0
178
40
3
2,874
93
82

2,048
7,459

9,507
56
9
5
17
0
0
2
10
1

6,568
0
16
83
0

2,939

25

8,400
8,400
8,400
8,400


NA
NA
NA

23,401
23,401
23,401

10,201
10,201
10,201

0
1,718
1,333
0
0
0

191
0
0
2
104
35
7
9
0
0
0
0
15
0
0
363
NA
NA

1,350
7,334

8,684
26
16
6
33
0
0
5
3
9

8,684
59
25
16
0

0

13

3,940
3,947
4,030
4,030


NA
NA
NA

26,595
26,595
38,245

11,745
11,745
23,395

629
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

109
0
0
3
68
52
13
10
0
0
8
0
22
5
0
290
NA
NA

2,513
5,741

8,254
64
12
2
13
0
1
3
3
0

6,730
19
33
48
1

1,524

15

34,750
35,436
37,432
39,266


54,242
54,242
54,242

52,980
52,980
52,980

41,880
41,880
41,880

212
737
398
0
4
0

289
0
0
3
33
72
38
34
161
3
20
0
48
6
0
707
NA
NA

1,889
5,826

7,715
31
11
5
42
0
1
4
2
4

7,715
29
40
31
0

0

21

4,788
4,745
4,586
4,902


NA
NA
NA

27,403
27,403
39,637

12,653
12,653
24,887

713
8
0
0
0
0

178
0
0
0
74
46
32
8
36
0
1
0
5
0
0
380
60
25

6,893
706

7,599
65
1
6
12
0
0
6
2
8

5,839
1
95
3
0

1,760

17

19,100
19,538
20,040
21,186


42,006
42,006
65,196

40,641
40,641
63,831

25,791
25,791
48,981

0
1,211
525
136
0
0

382
138
0
12
82
155
211
64
32
4
104
0
105
53
3
1,345
NA
NA

2,000
5,382

7,382
62
2
3
22
0
1
4
4
2

7,286
35
38
27
0

96

26

4,379
4,379
4,471
4,707


NA
NA
NA

27,272
27,272
39,512

12,422
12,422
24,662

569
5
31
0
0
0

154
0
0
3
62
44
66
11
14
0
29
0
33
8
1
425
87
11

3,310
1,321

4,631
53
6
6
24
0
1
4
4
2

2,680
0
67
32
0

1,951

9

38,558
39,610
42,220
43,980


63,408
63,408
63,408

63,468
63,468
63,468

48,618
48,618
48,618

0
658
767
0
142
0

429
0
0
2
5
76
6
30
33
5
13
39
213
16
0
867
NA
NA

1,107
781

1,888
56
11
4
14
0
2
4
9
0

1,888
0
57
42
0

0

12

20,725
21,615
22,607
23,720


NA
NA
NA

41,447
41,447
41,447

28,307
28,307
28,307

0
283
2
0
0
0

110
0
0
10
23
25
19
5
4
5
6
0
41
7
1
256
NA
NA

1,567
7

1,574
71
2
5
3
0
0
15
3
0

0
NA
NA
NA
NA

1,574

NA

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
0
104
0
287
0

99
3
0
8
61
59
25
16
2
12
24
0
44
0
0
353
NA
NA

1,008
0

1,008
50
14
7
19
1
1
5
3
0

949
0
30
70
0

59

14

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

26
423
17
0
0
0

71
0
0
1
0
14
9
1
3
0
1
0
8
0
0
108
NA
NA

200
637

837
69
8
8
1
0
0
3
8
3

0
NA
NA
NA
NA

837

NA

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
0
138
0
0
4

51
0
0
7
8
21
4
5
0
2
0
2
28
0
0
128
NA
NA

764
0

764
37
5
3
48
0
0
7
0
0

764
0
52
47
0

0

25

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

172
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

40
0
0
0
13
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
6
2
0
64
NA
NA

495
1

496
41
24
10
9
1
1
0
13
0

1
0
0
100
0

495

15

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
0
19
13
21
19

17
0
0
0
3
5
1
2
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
31
NA
NA

290
0

290
26
17
3
41
0
1
12
0
0

290
0
61
39
0

0

25

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

18
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

14
0
0
0
5
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
25
36
100

215
0

215
50
9
5
30
0
0
3
2
0

215
0
27
73
0

0

10

20,590
20,590
20,590
20,590


NA
NA
NA

47,062
47,062
47,062

29,107
29,107
29,107

0
60
0
0
0
0

22
0
0
1
1
4
4
1
0
4
0
2
2
0
0
41

Page 1 of 2
Colorado Chinese Medicine University
Colorado School of Trades  
Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology  
Iliff School of Theology  
Concorde Career College-Aurora  
Arizona College of Nursing-Aurora  
Percent admitted - total
Admissions yield - total

Full-time enrollment
Part-time enrollment

Total  enrollment
% White
% Black
% Asian
% Hispanic
% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
% American Indian or Alaska Native
% two or more races
% Race/ethnicity unknown
% U.S. Nonresident

Undergraduate enrollment
% under 18
% 18-24
% 25-64
% over 65

Graduate enrollment

Student-to-faculty ratio

Tuition and fees, 2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24

Total price for
In-district students living on campus  2023-24
In-state students living on campus 2023-24
Out-of-state students living on campus 2023-24

In-district students living off campus (no family)  2023-24
In-state students living off campus (no family)  2023-24
Out-of-state students living off campus (no family)  2023-24

In-district students living off campus (w/ family)  2023-24
In-state students living off campus (w/ family)  2023-24
Out-of-state students living off campus (w/ family)  2023-24

Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practice
Doctor's degree - other

Instructional FTE
Research FTE
Public Service FTE
Librarians, Curators, and Archivists FTE
Student/Academic Affairs and Other Education Services FTE
Management FTE
Business and Financial Operations FTE
Computer, Engineering, and Science FTE
Community Service, Legal, Arts, and Media FTE
Healthcare FTE
Service FTE
Sales and Related FTE
Office and Administrative Support FTE
Natural Resources, Construction, and Maintenance FTE
Production, Transportation, and Material Moving FTE
Total FTE staff
100
32

117
95

212
31
18
5
40
0
1
4
0
0

212
0
29
71
0

0

20

NA
NA
NA
23,760


NA
NA
NA

46,107
46,107
46,107

30,797
30,797
30,797

0
0
0
0
0
0

7
0
0
0
2
5
0
1
2
0
0
0
2
0
0
19
100
66

196
0

196
24
8
3
36
0
1
3
26
0

196
1
64
35
0

0

25

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

126
0
0
0
0
0

30
0
0
1
8
24
5
0
0
0
0
8
3
0
0
79
NA
NA

102
70

172
69
6
2
4
1
0
3
8
7

0
NA
NA
NA
NA

172

NA

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
0
26
7
3
0

17
0
0
2
5
7
4
1
3
0
0
0
3
0
0
42
59
33

161
0

161
57
3
2
25
0
1
3
9
0

161
0
73
27
0

0

20

12,338
12,338
13,819
13,819


NA
NA
NA

35,743
35,743
35,743

20,893
20,893
20,893

21
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

9
0
0
1
8
1
1
0
0
0
0
3
2
2
0
27
77
70

108
0

108
85
1
3
0
0
0
0
11
0

108
0
56
44
0

0

10

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

89
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

7
0
0
0
7
3
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
19
NA
NA

54
30

84
67
4
8
4
0
1
4
12
1

0
NA
NA
NA
NA

84

NA

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
0
18
0
0
0

23
0
0
0
0
4
2
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
32

Page 2 of 2


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus