Middle Georgia State University (MGA) contributed over $312 million to the regional economy in fiscal year 2024, marking a 5.3 percent increase from the previous year. The university’s activities supported nearly 3,000 jobs through both on- and off-campus spending.
The data comes from a study released by the University System of Georgia (USG) and conducted by Dr. Jeffrey M. Humphreys, director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.
Statewide, USG institutions together contributed $23.1 billion to Georgia’s economy between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024—an increase of 5.4 percent over the prior year. The report notes that this impact includes more than 168,000 full- and part-time jobs across Georgia, representing about 3.3 percent of all non-farm employment in the state.
“The continued growth of the economic impact of the University is a powerful reflection of our commitment to our values of stewardship and engagement,” said Christopher Blake, Ph.D., MGA’s president. “Those values ensure that our resources leverage the economic well-being of the region by engaging our strength in the workforce and the community.”
Key figures for MGA’s fiscal year 2024 include a total economic impact of $312.2 million; support for 2,932 jobs (818 on campus and 2,114 off campus); labor income generated at $130.3 million; value added to the region totaling $210.8 million; and capital projects contributing an additional $3.1 million while supporting 20 jobs.
A related study estimated that members of USG’s class of 2024 who work in Georgia can expect total work-life earnings amounting to $230 billion—$73 billion more than they would have earned without their degrees. Of this amount, approximately $1.5 billion is attributed to MGA graduates’ increased lifetime earnings.
According to USG estimates, those with at least a bachelor’s degree will earn roughly $1.4 million more over their lifetimes compared to individuals without such credentials.
MGA is one among USG’s 26 institutions with its primary economic influence felt in counties where it has campuses: Bibb (Macon), Bleckley (Cochran), Laurens (Dublin), Dodge (Eastman), Houston (Warner Robins), as well as Jones, Monroe, Peach, Crawford, Twiggs, Baldwin, Wilkinson, Lamar, and Pulaski counties.
The study assessed MGA’s total economic impact based on university spending on personnel and operations along with student expenditures; it also included effects from subsequent rounds of local re-spending known as multiplier effects.
For further details on these findings or methodology behind these calculations see: https://www.usg.edu/assets/usg/docs/news_files/USG_Economic_Impact_2024_%281%29.pdf
