CSU Impact Study Released

The California State University and its 23 campuses create a total annual economic impact of $53 billion in spending, 527,000 jobs and $3.11 billion in tax revenue for state and local governments, according to a recently released CSU study on the system’s impact on the state.

“Californians undervalue the vital importance of the CSU system and its campuses, so this report is a key way to identify the critical role of the California State University,” said CSU Chancellor Charles B. Reed. “The CSU directly or indirectly impacts everyone in the state, and we add value to everyone’s lives. If it weren’t for the CSU, California simply would not enjoy the level of success that it has today.”

“Working for California: The Impact of the California State University” reports that for every $1 the state invests in the CSU, the state reaps a four-fold benefit. The immediate impact of CSU-related expenditures creates $13.6 billion annually in economic activity, supports 207,000 jobs and some $760 million in taxes is generated for the state coffers.

In addition there is the impact of CSU graduates on the state, said CSU officials, who noted that graduates obtain better jobs because of their degrees, and the state benefits because the CSU provides a pool of trained and knowledgeable citizens allowing more high-end jobs to be created and performed in the state. “CSU’s well-educated graduates help to attract, retain and develop the companies that are leading California’s economy into the future,” said Reed.

Authors of the report estimate that the 1.7 million CSU alumni living and working in California earn $89 billion in income, $25 billion of which is directly attributable to their degrees.

The CSU confers half of all the bachelor’s degrees and a third of the master’s degrees granted in the state. Broken down by fields, the CSU awards 65 percent of the state’s business baccalaureate degrees; 52 percent of its agricultural business and agricultural engineering bachelor degrees; 52 percent of the undergraduate degrees in communications; and 45 percent of computer and electronic engineering bachelor degrees.

The CSU also trains 87 percent of teachers, educationrelated staff and social workers; 89 percent of criminal justice workers; and 82 percent of public administrators.

Beyond economic impact, the CSU also affects the social, cultural and intellectual life of California through sporting events, public lecture series and art exhibitions, library and museum resources, music, film and theater productions. Each year, according to the report, 3.1 million visitors flock to CSU campuses to attend university-based events. Further, nearly half of the CSU’s approximately 400,000 students take part in community service ranging from preschool reading programs to public art preservation, health education and literacy projects. Student volunteers contribute 33 million hours a year.

The study, conducted by ICF Consulting, is available online at www.calstate.edu.