KSU impact on state business passes $2 billion, officials say

In the latest measure of how universities impact business in Georgia, Kennesaw State University announced its impact in 2022 was $2.03 billion.

The University System of Georgia released the data showing the fiscal effects of KSU on Tuesday.

According to the university, the most recent fiscal year saw a 10.4% increase in impact compared to the year before.

In 2021, KSU had a $1.84 billion effect on Georgia business.

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Across the whole USG, economic impacts grew a collective 4.14% higher than in 2021, according to a release from KSU.

Overall, USG’s 26 institutions impacted their local communities by $20.1 billion, an increase from the previous $19.3 billion.

“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.”

That means on its own, KSU was about 10.1% of the whole system’s business footprint in Georgia.

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KSU said more than half of its business impact was owed to personnel costs and operating expenses, as well as education-related spending by students.

“Kennesaw State is an important driver of the economy within our region and the state of Georgia,” KSU President Kathy Schwaig said in a statement. “Our academic programs, impactful research, enrollment and community partnerships continue to have a growing positive impact.”

Those spending levels were $1.3 billion of its total impact, with the remainder resulting from KSU, its employees, and students purchasing items and services around Kennesaw.

The leftover $728 million in buying was used for activities like going out to eat at restaurants or shopping in local stores, according to the university.

Currently, KSU has more than 43,000 enrolled students and employed a reported 15,917 full- and part-time jobs. The number of positions is split both on and off campus, with 1,822 off-campus in both private and public sectors, and 4,095 jobs on campus, according to KSU.

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