USG Report Recognizes Gordon State College’s Economic Contribution
By Karolina Philmon, GSC marketing manager
On Wednesday, Aug. 14, the University System of Georgia (USG) released a report that listed Gordon State College as having contributed more than $126 million to the regional economy and provided 934 jobs in fiscal year (FY) 2023.
At GSC, initial spending was valued at $78,525,101, generating an output impact of $126,304,052. This represents a 4.7% increase compared to the output impact over the previous year. The USG also reported in its findings that the value-added impact of GSC was $85,814,378.
“We at Gordon State College take pride in our contribution to the central Georgia economy,” said Donald J. Green, Ed.D., GSC president. “We view ourselves as a catalyst for regional economic growth by developing essential talent and fostering new business opportunities.”
Due to strategic initiatives at Highlander Nation, GSC created 221 on-campus jobs and 713 off-campus jobs. A study by Jeffrey M. Humphreys, Ph.D., director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, found that each job created on campus results in two additional jobs in the local community.
The data also show that USG and its institutions have an employment impact in Georgia comparable to that of the state’s top five employers combined.
USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue commented on the report that USG degrees will help graduates increase their “prosperity and success.”
“USG continues to be a million-dollar deal for our graduates,” Perdue said. “At the same time, we are a billion-dollar deal for Georgia. Our 26 public colleges and universities make a significant economic impact by helping to put Georgians to work and sustaining local communities across the state.”
A companion study found that each credential adds to a USG graduate’s lifetime earnings. The analysis showed that the 72,037 graduates from the Class of 2023 can expect combined lifetime earnings of $220 billion, based on Georgia work-life earnings estimates.
The report also noted that postsecondary education pays off for USG graduates. High school graduates who earn a bachelor’s degree in Georgia will see an 82% increase in their work-life earnings, surpassing the national average of 80%.