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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
|
Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences |
Franklin and Marshall College |
|
Elizabethtown College |
|
Dickinson College |
|
Lancaster Bible College |
|
McDaniel College |
|
Gettysburg College |
|
Carroll Community College |
|
Messiah University |
|
Stevenson University |
|
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology |
|
York College of Pennsylvania |
|
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg |
|
Harford Community College |
|
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania |
|
Millersville University of Pennsylvania |
|
Harrisburg Area Community College |
|
University of Maryland-Baltimore County |
|
Community College of Baltimore County |
|
Towson University |
|
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
|
83
19
15,585
3,942
19,527
42
30
7
10
0
0
5
3
2
16,517
1
89
9
0
3,010
14
10,198
10,464
10,818
11,306
31,390
31,390
48,410
31,390
31,390
48,410
15,746
15,746
32,766
0
4,064
844
12
38
0
1,180
2
0
26
20
356
332
150
133
29
51
8
233
79
37
2,636 |
NA
NA
4,219
11,584
15,803
33
38
6
8
0
0
4
2
8
15,803
15
48
37
1
0
15
4,380
4,380
4,380
4,380
NA
NA
NA
25,230
28,324
31,730
9,488
12,582
15,988
1,718
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
562
0
111
24
216
67
95
68
111
1
151
0
276
52
11
1,745 |
74
20
11,523
2,625
14,148
28
20
19
8
0
0
5
1
18
10,490
2
88
10
0
3,658
18
9,420
12,280
12,606
12,952
32,170
32,170
49,526
35,190
35,190
52,546
19,284
19,284
36,640
0
2,419
1,000
100
0
0
696
221
0
35
8
408
297
146
137
15
39
6
138
46
18
2,210 |
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 |
89
19
4,852
1,880
6,732
74
9
3
10
0
0
1
1
1
5,724
2
86
12
0
1,008
19
11,665
12,256
12,262
12,262
29,262
29,262
33,232
29,222
29,222
33,192
16,662
16,662
20,632
7
1,246
318
0
15
0
296
0
0
14
0
41
147
28
49
4
117
0
85
31
0
812 |
86
20
4,163
1,021
5,184
75
11
2
7
0
0
4
1
1
4,421
5
90
5
0
763
18
13,544
13,544
13,544
13,544
31,078
31,078
33,332
29,530
29,530
31,784
18,126
18,126
20,380
0
933
253
0
13
0
255
0
0
11
1
40
113
22
35
4
58
0
74
32
0
645 |
NA
NA
1,627
3,481
5,108
64
18
4
7
0
0
4
0
2
5,108
20
57
22
0
0
16
3,827
3,827
3,888
3,974
NA
NA
NA
20,030
22,358
24,686
10,930
13,258
15,586
854
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
171
0
26
12
80
31
30
31
44
0
28
4
55
16
0
528 |
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 |
94
17
3,015
705
3,720
72
8
2
9
0
0
4
3
1
3,308
4
90
6
0
412
13
21,700
22,350
23,328
24,606
40,686
40,686
40,686
41,186
41,186
41,186
28,706
28,706
28,706
7
769
82
0
16
0
240
0
0
7
16
62
30
31
54
3
48
11
69
9
6
586 |
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 |
83
18
2,899
608
3,507
49
30
4
9
0
0
6
1
1
3,028
1
89
9
0
479
15
37,868
38,168
38,738
39,708
59,986
59,986
59,986
56,967
56,967
56,967
45,208
45,208
45,208
0
748
220
0
0
0
215
0
0
4
61
41
21
21
66
26
26
1
27
15
10
534 |
78
32
2,532
812
3,344
76
5
4
8
0
0
4
1
2
2,586
11
88
2
0
758
12
37,180
38,370
39,490
40,640
56,770
56,770
56,770
58,090
58,090
58,090
45,750
45,750
45,750
0
550
213
0
42
0
240
0
0
10
31
43
34
34
75
9
114
0
89
17
4
700 |
NA
NA
901
2,263
3,164
75
6
4
8
0
0
5
1
0
3,164
31
51
18
0
0
15
4,128
4,128
4,128
4,128
NA
NA
NA
14,128
17,188
19,618
7,628
10,688
13,118
471
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
113
0
24
4
48
29
18
20
18
3
31
0
67
7
0
382 |
48
18
2,213
682
2,895
68
5
3
10
0
0
3
2
9
2,216
2
98
0
0
679
10
58,500
59,960
61,760
64,230
81,960
81,960
81,960
81,960
81,960
81,960
66,430
66,430
66,430
0
573
75
0
0
0
228
0
0
23
33
64
33
34
69
4
136
0
79
22
4
729 |
84
13
2,290
592
2,882
57
18
2
8
0
0
4
3
8
1,665
1
97
2
0
1,217
13
46,851
47,311
46,800
49,647
66,145
66,145
66,145
64,251
64,251
64,251
55,223
55,223
55,223
0
373
288
0
0
0
258
0
0
11
8
56
22
8
85
1
21
1
52
19
1
543 |
95
48
1,040
1,415
2,455
57
28
1
2
0
1
4
6
0
1,778
5
55
38
3
677
18
27,370
27,370
28,460
29,990
45,869
45,869
45,869
45,869
45,869
45,869
34,229
34,229
34,229
36
265
106
10
0
0
155
0
0
4
0
54
4
13
31
0
9
1
64
3
2
340 |
43
17
2,176
41
2,217
64
4
5
7
0
0
4
1
14
2,204
2
97
0
0
13
9
56,523
58,733
61,351
63,475
83,227
83,227
83,227
83,290
83,290
83,290
66,490
66,490
66,490
0
371
3
0
0
0
240
0
0
13
43
95
44
45
67
8
134
0
102
29
8
828 |
77
19
1,872
280
2,152
83
3
2
6
0
0
2
1
2
1,857
2
92
6
0
295
12
32,960
34,600
35,670
36,842
51,946
51,946
51,946
47,192
47,192
47,192
39,192
39,192
39,192
9
386
126
0
5
0
155
0
0
5
21
39
31
19
48
1
72
0
48
10
6
455 |
32
19
1,902
9
1,911
58
5
5
10
0
0
4
1
17
1,911
0
100
0
0
0
9
61,062
63,406
65,844
68,380
86,018
86,018
86,018
86,018
86,018
86,018
76,430
76,430
76,430
0
524
0
0
0
0
208
0
0
23
45
51
120
32
55
0
73
0
83
19
5
714 |
44
47
652
1,118
1,770
62
12
5
17
0
0
3
1
0
1,648
1
42
57
0
122
13
29,922
29,922
30,821
31,866
NA
NA
NA
61,700
61,700
61,700
40,200
40,200
40,200
294
130
40
0
3
0
78
0
0
2
14
29
9
6
0
0
3
0
6
0
0
147 |
Page 1 of 2
Lancaster Theological Seminary |
Bais HaMedrash and Mesivta of Baltimore |
|
Lancaster County Career and Technology Center |
|
United Lutheran Seminary |
|
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design |
|
Ner Israel Rabbinical College |
|
YTI Career Institute-York |
|
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State York |
|
Central Penn College |
|
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology |
|
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
|
53
69
1,398
55
1,453
64
12
1
16
0
1
5
0
2
1,453
1
92
6
0
0
16
8,400
8,400
8,450
9,050
23,376
23,376
23,376
24,976
24,976
24,976
13,306
13,306
13,306
485
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
94
0
0
0
6
29
3
5
3
1
15
2
16
4
2
180 |
26
61
191
636
827
48
16
3
9
0
0
6
15
3
806
0
48
51
0
21
8
18,714
18,714
19,404
19,404
30,320
30,320
30,320
27,854
27,854
27,854
22,204
22,204
22,204
107
129
10
0
0
0
48
0
0
1
13
17
3
3
15
0
7
0
5
2
0
114 |
92
10
586
121
707
63
8
7
11
0
0
4
3
5
702
4
84
11
0
5
12
14,486
14,838
15,140
15,180
NA
NA
NA
35,256
35,256
45,194
21,124
21,124
31,062
12
85
7
0
0
0
52
0
0
2
5
14
9
4
10
0
16
1
10
3
0
126 |
NA
NA
497
0
497
56
11
3
13
0
0
5
11
0
497
0
50
49
0
0
9
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
106
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
41
0
0
0
17
3
1
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
65 |
79
80
438
11
449
91
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
9
292
1
90
9
0
157
20
12,900
13,200
13,700
14,400
26,750
26,750
26,750
36,850
36,850
36,850
19,150
19,150
19,150
0
48
26
1
3
0
14
1
0
0
6
6
0
2
1
0
19
7
7
0
0
63 |
46
31
289
34
323
64
14
6
1
1
1
6
8
0
323
3
89
7
0
0
9
27,650
28,450
29,450
31,370
46,755
46,755
46,755
46,755
46,755
46,755
36,520
36,520
36,520
0
51
0
0
0
0
38
0
0
2
11
15
2
2
3
0
2
0
2
0
0
77 |
NA
NA
78
180
258
69
24
2
1
0
0
0
0
4
0
NA
NA
NA
NA
258
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
0
0
35
2
0
0
17
0
0
8
5
6
4
3
0
0
4
0
7
10
0
64 |
NA
NA
210
40
250
47
19
2
13
0
0
9
10
0
250
3
57
40
0
0
24
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
43
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
68
0
0
0
0
13
3
3
6
0
16
0
10
0
0
119 |
100
100
91
0
91
100
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
91
0
100
0
0
0
14
13,100
13,100
13,100
13,100
24,300
24,300
24,300
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
0
16
0
0
0
0
8
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
13 |
NA
NA
33
28
61
51
28
3
3
0
0
0
15
0
0
NA
NA
NA
NA
61
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
0
0
9
0
5
0
11
0
0
1
0
3
0
0
3
0
1
0
3
0
0
22 |
Page 2 of 2
Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus
|