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Schuylkill 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.
 
Lincoln Technical Institute-Allentown
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill  
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley  
Cedar Crest College  
Albright College  
Muhlenberg College  
King's College  
Misericordia University  
Lebanon Valley College  
Alvernia University  
DeSales University  
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology  
Luzerne County Community College  
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg  
Reading Area Community College  
Wilkes University  
Lehigh Carbon Community College  
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania  
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania  
Harrisburg Area Community College  
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
NA
NA

3,477
9,403

12,880
62
10
5
13
0
0
4
3
2

12,880
20
49
31
0

0

13

6,758
6,870
7,088
7,373


NA
NA
NA

24,588
26,133
28,615

15,128
16,673
19,155

1,707
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

672
0
0
15
65
64
81
62
41
0
42
12
136
0
0
1,190
95
33

9,481
1,607

11,088
78
5
1
6
0
0
2
6
0

9,967
6
88
6
0

1,121

19

NA
10,848
10,848
11,046


26,470
26,470
38,294

26,102
26,102
37,926

17,246
17,246
29,070

95
2,228
425
0
12
0

553
0
0
24
0
66
227
54
96
7
171
0
157
85
0
1,440
95
21

6,341
1,075

7,416
72
7
2
12
0
0
4
2
1

6,420
1
93
5
0

996

20

11,156
11,170
11,230
11,230


29,866
29,866
35,070

29,866
29,866
35,070

20,470
20,470
25,674

0
1,388
303
0
13
0

329
0
0
11
0
34
165
13
47
5
85
0
88
22
0
799
NA
NA

1,896
4,489

6,385
52
8
3
30
0
1
2
4
0

6,385
25
49
26
0

0

21

4,440
4,800
5,100
5,215


NA
NA
NA

23,015
27,010
31,005

12,215
16,210
20,205

806
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

201
0
0
4
38
55
7
23
20
0
16
0
41
2
0
407
91
9

2,352
2,846

5,198
70
12
4
8
0
0
3
1
2

1,956
2
91
7
0

3,242

13

38,752
39,914
41,112
42,286


61,885
61,885
61,885

56,486
56,486
56,486

48,529
48,529
48,529

0
487
737
30
84
0

245
0
0
13
130
29
31
34
53
5
54
0
44
18
1
657
NA
NA

892
3,896

4,788
42
9
2
42
0
0
4
0
1

4,788
33
41
26
0

0

20

5,820
5,910
6,060
6,270


NA
NA
NA

23,870
28,490
29,630

13,070
17,690
18,830

452
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

113
0
0
4
23
43
22
13
29
0
2
2
38
6
1
296
96
12

4,187
464

4,651
47
9
13
8
0
0
4
2
18

4,164
2
91
7
0

487

15

15,216
15,586
15,904
15,944


38,442
38,442
49,166

36,020
36,020
46,744

21,888
21,888
32,612

6
729
187
6
0
0

299
1
0
6
9
41
31
28
50
1
85
1
65
17
1
635
NA
NA

1,388
2,927

4,315
55
7
2
20
0
0
1
15
0

4,315
21
49
30
0

0

15

5,670
5,670
6,000
6,450


NA
NA
NA

19,450
24,130
28,810

11,450
16,130
20,810

475
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

179
0
0
6
16
25
2
16
19
0
39
0
59
10
2
373
82
14

3,297
261

3,558
9
6
2
4
0
0
1
1
78

718
10
74
16
0

2,840

17

23,900
23,900
23,900
23,900


37,800
37,800
37,800

37,800
37,800
37,800

28,900
28,900
28,900

0
104
686
6
0
0

202
0
2
3
72
13
8
11
11
0
4
32
6
12
0
376
79
16

2,304
615

2,919
71
5
5
13
0
0
2
4
0

2,149
2
84
14
0

770

11

39,500
41,000
42,600
44,800


64,916
64,916
64,916

62,216
62,216
62,216

53,024
53,024
53,024

0
547
289
0
27
0

209
0
0
3
41
49
45
27
45
6
48
0
47
14
0
534
62
12

1,946
539

2,485
62
10
2
14
0
0
3
4
4

2,050
1
81
18
0

435

12

38,030
39,280
40,750
42,810


61,900
61,900
61,900

53,010
53,010
53,010

46,810
46,810
46,810

79
372
179
6
31
0

164
0
0
3
31
22
36
6
41
0
6
0
17
6
8
340
75
20

1,864
278

2,142
83
3
2
6
0
0
3
2
1

1,710
1
97
1
0

432

12

46,030
47,180
48,620
50,320


69,528
69,528
69,528

69,528
69,528
69,528

54,788
54,788
54,788

0
377
126
0
55
0

173
0
0
8
29
25
17
15
40
5
40
0
42
8
0
402
85
19

1,759
348

2,107
81
4
1
6
0
0
2
5
0

1,670
1
85
14
0

437

10

35,940
35,940
35,940
38,370


56,046
56,046
56,046

51,744
51,744
51,744

41,620
41,620
41,620

0
446
140
0
51
0

177
0
0
6
41
38
9
18
47
2
52
0
31
4
0
425
93
13

1,609
323

1,932
76
5
3
11
0
0
2
2
1

1,590
5
93
3
0

342

11

40,080
40,880
41,600
42,600


61,874
61,874
61,874

61,289
61,289
61,289

52,021
52,021
52,021

0
401
146
0
0
0

141
0
0
6
19
33
17
16
40
6
28
0
25
42
5
378
64
15

1,776
42

1,818
72
5
4
11
0
0
4
4
1

1,788
1
95
3
0

30

8

54,600
55,830
58,005
60,240


77,845
77,845
77,845

77,890
77,890
77,890

63,890
63,890
63,890

0
529
13
0
0
0

215
0
0
9
13
65
38
21
66
6
86
2
68
17
2
608
86
8

1,306
346

1,652
51
19
2
18
0
0
6
2
2

1,328
1
89
10
0

324

10

26,688
27,678
28,230
28,794


46,422
46,422
46,422

46,822
46,822
46,822

32,868
32,868
32,868

0
250
20
0
0
0

122
0
0
2
22
34
36
4
47
8
43
0
25
11
0
354
99
14

845
403

1,248
51
10
3
17
0
0
3
13
5

886
1
73
26
0

362

9

41,567
42,591
43,643
44,934


61,785
61,785
61,785

61,435
61,435
61,435

49,934
49,934
49,934

0
264
101
0
10
0

100
0
0
3
6
36
3
7
23
0
16
0
45
6
0
245
94
16

832
122

954
53
8
11
21
0
0
4
2
1

954
7
84
9
0

0

15

14,486
14,838
15,140
15,180


NA
NA
NA

35,256
35,256
45,194

21,124
21,124
31,062

3
117
0
0
0
0

58
0
0
2
7
15
8
4
13
1
11
0
8
1
0
128
91
21

576
74

650
67
13
3
10
0
0
2
4
1

650
5
89
6
0

0

12

14,486
14,838
15,140
15,180


30,518
30,518
40,456

35,256
35,256
45,194

21,124
21,124
31,062

34
68
0
0
0
0

49
0
0
2
3
12
5
4
13
2
16
0
10
4
0
120
NA
NA

529
0

529
23
22
1
43
0
0
5
5
0

529
0
49
51
0

0

21

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

21
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

25
0
0
0
3
13
0
1
0
0
1
0
6
0
0
49

Page 1 of 2
Triangle Tech Inc-Sunbury
Triangle Tech Inc-Bethlehem  
Fortis Institute-Forty Fort  
Miller-Motte College-McCann-Allentown  
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Wilkes-Barre  
Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute  
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton  
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
91
31

484
26

510
55
10
3
22
0
0
5
2
2

510
2
89
9
0

0

11

14,486
14,838
15,140
15,180


33,830
33,830
43,768

35,256
35,256
45,194

21,124
21,124
31,062

26
47
0
0
0
0

46
0
0
2
3
14
5
1
12
2
28
0
3
4
0
120
NA
NA

445
7

452
29
14
2
48
0
0
6
1
0

452
0
40
60
0

0

12

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

55
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

38
0
0
0
4
3
2
0
0
0
0
5
3
0
0
55
95
15

319
34

353
80
7
1
6
0
0
3
1
1

348
3
90
7
0

5

10

13,604
13,936
14,218
14,258


NA
NA
NA

34,334
34,334
43,826

20,202
20,202
29,694

9
38
0
0
0
0

32
0
0
2
1
9
5
2
9
0
11
0
8
2
0
81
NA
NA

264
13

277
20
21
0
45
0
1
8
4
0

277
0
37
63
0

0

14

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

43
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

19
0
0
0
0
5
1
0
0
0
0
7
1
0
0
33
NA
NA

159
0

159
38
25
1
27
0
1
6
3
0

159
0
33
67
0

0

18

13,921
16,863
13,757
13,955


NA
NA
NA

35,014
35,014
35,014

17,489
17,489
17,489

7
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

9
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
12
NA
NA

94
0

94
52
14
0
34
0
0
0
0
0

94
2
81
17
0

0

7

17,834
18,500
18,593
18,593


NA
NA
NA

39,755
39,755
39,755

27,075
27,075
27,075

86
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

13
0
0
0
3
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
20
NA
NA

64
0

64
80
8
0
11
0
0
2
0
0

64
3
72
25
0

0

7

17,933
18,665
18,701
18,700


NA
NA
NA

39,983
39,983
39,983

27,303
27,303
27,303

30
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

8
0
0
0
3
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
15

Page 2 of 2


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus