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Cheatham 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.
 
Nashville Film Institute
American Baptist College  
Williamson Christian College  
John A Gupton College  
Nossi College of Art and Design  
Remington College-Nashville Campus  
Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia Inc  
Fortis Institute-Nashville  
Galen Health Institutes-Nashville Campus  
Meridian Institute of Surgical Assisting  
Fisk University  
Meharry Medical College  
SAE Institute of Technology-Nashville  
Trevecca Nazarene University  
Lipscomb University  
Nashville State Community College  
Tennessee State University  
Belmont University  
Austin Peay State University  
Vanderbilt 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
6
57

12,711
745

13,456
46
9
13
10
0
0
5
3
13

7,152
1
99
0
0

6,304

7

54,158
56,966
60,348
63,946


89,590
89,590
89,590

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
1,820
1,797
497
403
0

1,449
188
17
67
184
859
437
768
577
64
824
46
494
121
139
6,234
96
31

5,985
3,960

9,945
55
19
2
11
0
0
6
5
2

8,587
15
61
24
0

1,358

15

8,303
8,431
8,431
8,675


26,515
26,515
32,059

27,141
27,141
32,685

13,445
13,445
18,989

1,120
1,408
518
10
0
0

495
0
0
13
60
35
7
24
319
9
53
1
138
36
1
1,191
96
19

8,251
611

8,862
75
6
3
9
0
0
4
1
1

7,330
1
95
4
0

1,532

12

37,030
38,430
39,850
41,320


62,570
62,570
62,570

67,870
67,870
67,870

48,280
48,280
48,280

0
1,575
313
0
268
0

681
0
0
18
40
235
156
33
80
9
147
0
106
27
2
1,534
93
15

6,553
1,645

8,198
9
77
1
3
0
0
3
4
4

6,765
6
87
7
0

1,433

13

9,012
8,336
8,336
8,568


25,868
25,868
39,584

33,894
33,894
47,610

16,360
16,360
30,076

20
756
374
44
35
0

430
67
2
0
27
162
25
18
276
16
89
2
237
8
2
1,361
NA
NA

2,777
3,831

6,608
46
29
4
14
0
0
5
2
1

6,608
21
45
34
0

0

20

4,294
4,372
4,372
4,498


NA
NA
NA

22,467
22,467
35,667

9,955
9,955
23,155

829
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

203
0
0
6
20
51
8
22
7
2
17
0
73
5
0
414
67
25

4,441
606

5,047
71
9
3
8
0
0
3
3
3

3,270
6
86
8
0

1,777

13

34,744
35,752
37,152
38,824


59,678
59,678
59,678

59,364
59,364
59,364

44,874
44,874
44,874

0
663
642
76
66
0

352
2
0
8
61
54
72
38
137
7
91
0
76
16
2
916
70
27

2,387
809

3,196
52
20
2
10
0
0
4
5
7

1,825
8
74
18
0

1,371

22

26,898
26,898
28,200
29,790


42,700
42,700
42,700

55,432
55,432
55,432

39,448
39,448
39,448

25
380
427
153
0
0

130
0
0
4
0
56
8
14
36
3
36
0
97
1
0
385
NA
NA

1,800
0

1,800
15
59
1
16
0
1
6
2
0

1,800
0
48
52
0

0

11

20,090
17,027
17,027
17,027


NA
NA
NA

48,552
48,552
48,552

21,666
21,666
21,666

211
14
0
0
0
0

46
0
0
1
22
6
0
5
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
85
NA
NA

1,083
0

1,083
4
87
6
3
0
0
0
0
0

0
NA
NA
NA
NA

1,083

NA

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
0
111
6
183
0

204
0
0
3
3
194
38
59
36
161
53
1
92
0
1
845
58
7

965
40

1,005
0
82
1
1
0
0
1
9
6

950
0
96
3
0

55

11

22,132
22,906
23,578
24,298


41,496
41,496
41,496

41,496
41,496
41,496

29,798
29,798
29,798

0
129
2
0
0
0

86
0
3
10
0
20
7
8
13
0
14
2
33
0
0
196
NA
NA

748
40

788
69
11
0
14
0
0
6
0
0

788
0
3
97
0

0

87

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

17
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

11
0
0
0
0
4
2
1
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
21
NA
NA

426
337

763
47
29
2
6
0
1
2
13
0

763
0
22
78
0

0

12

NA
17,700
17,700
16,400


NA
NA
NA

37,109
37,109
37,109

21,449
21,449
21,449

5
0
0
0
0
0

38
0
0
0
4
9
0
1
0
0
1
0
13
0
0
66
NA
NA

390
2

392
30
49
3
9
1
0
6
3
0

392
0
43
57
0

0

21

15,764
15,804
16,035
15,237


NA
NA
NA

38,778
38,778
38,778

22,878
22,878
22,878

80
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

19
0
0
1
0
7
4
0
4
0
0
0
2
0
0
37
NA
NA

216
92

308
77
5
5
9
0
0
0
4
0

0
NA
NA
NA
NA

308

NA

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
0
0
0
75
0

4
0
0
1
10
9
1
1
3
0
1
0
2
0
0
32
NA
NA

279
0

279
25
53
1
9
8
0
3
1
0

279
0
39
61
0

0

24

16,565
17,189
21,147
21,230


NA
NA
NA

35,947
35,947
35,947

26,727
26,727
26,727

41
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

11
0
0
0
0
7
1
0
0
0
0
2
8
0
0
29
43
47

278
0

278
63
24
2
7
0
2
2
0
0

278
0
81
19
0

0

10

19,150
19,150
19,150
20,350


NA
NA
NA

30,850
30,850
30,850

25,450
25,450
25,450

1
34
0
0
0
0

17
0
0
0
0
3
1
0
1
0
0
4
6
0
0
32
84
69

64
96

160
83
12
1
2
0
0
2
0
0

160
0
38
61
1

0

14

11,583
11,583
11,735
12,040


NA
NA
NA

33,556
33,556
33,556

18,620
18,620
18,620

55
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

7
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
13
NA
NA

57
0

57
70
4
7
18
0
0
2
0
0

40
0
55
45
0

17

7

12,850
13,730
14,390
15,010


NA
NA
NA

36,194
36,194
36,194

24,894
24,894
24,894

1
11
2
0
0
0

11
0
0
0
3
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
18
NA
NA

38
10

48
0
96
0
0
0
0
0
0
4

48
0
25
75
0

0

5

12,474
12,474
12,474
12,474


27,044
27,044
27,044

28,028
28,028
28,028

18,404
18,404
18,404

1
8
0
0
0
0

6
0
0
1
9
6
2
2
0
0
2
0
4
2
0
34
NA
NA

33
0

33
55
30
3
9
0
0
3
0
0

33
0
64
33
3

0

11

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

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


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus