Columbus State University’s increasing economic impact in the Chattahoochee Valley continues a multi-year trend, according to an annual study by the University System of Georgia. The study, released on Aug. 14, analyzed regional Fiscal Year 2023 spending and jobs created by the state’s 26 public colleges and universities system.

The university’s $297.5 million total FY23 economic impact—up from $290.2 million in Fiscal Year 2022—included $237.2 million in initial spending by Columbus State students and by the university on personnel and operating expenses. The additional $60.3 million is the multiplier impact of those funds on the local community.

President Stuart Rayfield lauded the report’s timing, which followed the university’s launch last week of its new five-year “Better Together: 2030” strategic plan.

“Since opening our doors to our first students in 1958, Columbus State University has been intertwined with this region’s success and vitality. Both our new strategic plan and this study underscore the importance of that relationship,” Rayfield said. “I love the numerical results of our impact, but I don’t want anyone to overlook the intangibles of CSU’s influence on the local quality of life, on individuals whose lives we help change, on communities we help build and dreams we help realize.”

The university’s commitment extends to bolstering the region’s workforce infrastructure, and Rayfield noted that the USG’s study emphasizes that role. During FY23, the university generated 2,685 full- and part-time jobs in the region. Two-thirds of those were community-based, off-campus jobs. The remaining third were university jobs, making CSU a top-10 Columbus employer.

Columbus State’s regional impact is part of the University System of Georgia’s collective $21.9 billion FY23 contribution to Georgia’s economy. That is a $1.8 billion, or 9%, increase over FY22. The study also showed that USG, over the same period, generated 163,332 full- and part-time jobs across Georgia.

A related study, “Lifetime Earnings for University System of Georgia, Class of 2023,” released alongside the economic study promises strong earning potential for USG graduates. Findings show how each step up in college education—from certificates to doctoral degrees and everything in between—can substantially add to a USG graduate’s total earnings over the course of their lives.

For example, graduates with at least a bachelor’s degree will earn $1.4 million more throughout their lives. In fact, high school graduates who obtain a bachelor’s degree will boost their work-life earnings in Georgia by 82%, exceeding the 80% increase estimated for the nation.

“We’re delighted the study affirms that a college degree is one of the best ways to position young people in Georgia for their earning potential and career success,” Rayfield said. “A college education is clearly a worthwhile investment, and Columbus State continues to be ranked as one of the most affordable campuses in the south where students can invest in their futures.”