Studies highlight UNG's role as a regional economic driver and the lifetime earnings value of higher education.
Article By: Clark Leonard
The University of North Georgia's (UNG) economic impact totaled almost $737 million on northeast Georgia during fiscal year 2022. The impact includes nearly $734 million in spending and jobs and an additional $3.3 million impact attributed to capital construction projects. The annual study of the University System of Georgia's (USG) economic impact measures direct and indirect spending that contributes to the university's service region.
"UNG is an economic engine for the region and our state. From creating leaders in high-demand careers and national service to creating jobs and economic growth for the communities we serve, we are proud to support the mission of the University System of Georgia," UNG President Michael Shannon said.
Included in UNG's economic impact is almost $108 million in spending by about 18,000 students, which alone created 3,068 jobs in the area. On average, for every dollar spent by the university, an additional 42 cents are generated for the region.
UNG has campuses in Blue Ridge, Cumming, Dahlonega, Gainesville, and Oconee County. The study area included those communities and the contiguous counties — Barrow, Clarke, Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Gilmer, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, Oconee, Union, and White counties. Study areas for each school in the report were defined based on the Residence County to Workplace County Flows for Georgia, 2009-2013 from the U.S. Census Bureau.
UNG is an economic engine for the region and our state. From creating leaders in high-demand careers and national service to creating jobs and economic growth for the communities we serve, we are proud to support the mission of the University System of Georgia.
Dr. Michael Shannon
UNG president
UNG also had a regional employment impact of 6,314 jobs in the same period. The employment impact includes 1,931 on-campus and off-campus jobs. The report noted that on average, for each job created on campus, more than two off-campus jobs exist because of spending related to the institution.
As a whole, all USG public colleges and universities in 2022 had a statewide impact of $20.1 billion, a 4.14% increase.
Conducted on behalf of USG by Jeffrey M. Humphreys, Ph.D., director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, the study also showed USG over the same period generated 159,034 full- and part-time jobs across Georgia.
Humphreys’ companion study found that USG bachelor's graduates from the class of 2022 will earn over $1 million more during their lifetimes than they would have without their college degree, supporting the value of higher education, especially for high school graduates who earn a bachelor’s degree. UNG conferred 3,242 degrees in 2022, and the analysis shows that the group can collectively expect work-life earnings of almost $8 billion. UNG academic programs range from associate to doctoral programs, and, among USG institutions, UNG was one of the top degree-conferring universities in 2022.
"USG's 26 public colleges and universities, individually and collectively, make a significant economic impact across the state, helping to put Georgians to work while spending money in local communities and helping their regional economies support Georgia's growth," USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. "At the same time, our graduates are the real winners with this million-dollar deal. We're focused on continuing to help all our students be successful as they use their degrees to prepare themselves for their future prosperity."
The full economic impact and lifetime earnings reports are available online.
