The University System of Georgia generated a record $25.1 billion economic impact for the state in Fiscal Year 2025, according to a report released Thursday. The total represents an 8.9% increase over the previous fiscal year.
The study shows the University System of Georgia supported 170,096 jobs across Georgia. A companion report indicates that a bachelor’s degree from a University System of Georgia institution adds more than $1.4 million to a graduate’s lifetime earnings compared to a high school diploma.
The total economic impact of $25.1 billion in Fiscal Year 2025 represents an increase from $23.1 billion in Fiscal Year 2024.
The total includes $16.3 billion in direct spending by University System of Georgia institutions and students on operational costs and personnel, along with $8.8 billion generated through indirect spending in local communities.
For every job created directly on a University System of Georgia campus, two additional jobs are created in the surrounding local community.
The overall employment impact matches the combined workforce impact of Georgia’s top five private employers.
Earnings growth varies by academic credential. Over a lifetime, a certificate adds $308,988 in extra earnings, an associate degree adds $388,458, a bachelor’s degree adds $1,421,971, a master’s degree adds $1,730,419, a Ph.D. adds $2,389,806, and a professional degree adds $2,803,575.
Graduates from the Class of 2025 are projected to earn a combined lifetime total of $249 billion, $77 billion higher than what they would have earned without completing college or graduate school.
High school graduates in Georgia who complete a bachelor’s degree increase their work-life earnings by 80%, compared to a 77% average national increase.
Both studies were authored by Jeffrey M. Humphreys, director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia.
The report notes that average lifetime earnings fluctuate yearly depending on the ratio of bachelor’s degrees to other awarded credentials. When including credentials under four years, the average earnings boost for 2025 graduates exceeds $1 million.
University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue commented on the economic and educational findings in the report.
“A USG degree isn’t just a diploma. It’s a game-changer for our students and a major win for Georgia’s economy,” Perdue said. “Adding $25 billion to the state and giving our graduates a $1.4 million lifetime boost shows the real power of public higher education. When our students succeed, they put strong skills, a great work ethic and real value right back into Georgia communities.”
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