Economic Impact

Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University (A-State), established in 1909, is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System. A-State enrolls over 16,000 students and offers a range of academic programs across multiple colleges, including Agriculture, Engineering and Technology, Business, Education, Nursing and Health Professions, among many more. The economic and cultural engine of Northeast Arkansas, A-State’s public-private partnerships include hosting the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (Arkansas’ first osteopathic medical school) and the creation of Mexico’s first American-style university with ASUCQ in Queretaro.
Case Study:
Arkansas State University
  The Puzzle
In 2023, Arkansas State University enlisted Parker Strategy Group to quantify the economic impact of the university on the state of Arkansas, northeast Arkansas, and the city of Jonesboro, AR. As the region’s leading university for filling important workforce gaps in healthcare and education, A-State needed an update to their economic impact report in preparation for the next growth step for the university: the opening of the state’s only College of Veterinary Medicine.
  Profile
Arkansas State University (A-State), established in 1909, is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System. A-State enrolls over 16,000 students and offers a range of academic programs across multiple colleges, including Agriculture, Engineering and Technology, Business, Education, Nursing and Health Professions, among many more. The economic and cultural engine of Northeast Arkansas, A-State’s public-private partnerships include hosting the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (Arkansas’ first osteopathic medical school) and the creation of Mexico’s first American-style university with ASUCQ in Queretaro.
How we helped

Parker Strategy Group delivered a comprehensive, transparent economic contribution study with a strong, compelling narrative that showed A-State generates an impressive $2.5 billion in total economic impact annually, supports over 16,332 jobs, and contributes $152.5 million in state and local tax impacts. We highlighted the university’s workforce development, alumni power, community service, and the impact sparked by A-State athletics (Go Red Wolves!)

How It Helped The Client

As A-State continues to grow and fill the workforce needs of the city, state, and region, the university now can use a solid, defensible report and a compelling story to legislators, public partners, and key stakeholders. This report helps demonstrate the A-State’s role as an indispensable engine for Arkansas’s growth and ingenuity.

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