Economic Impact

Penn State

Penn State is Pennsylvania’s largest public university, enrolling nearly 90,000 students across 24 campuses, Pennsylvania College of Technology, and Penn State Health. The university’s mission is rooted in accessible education, groundbreaking research, and service to communities. With more than 788,000 alumni worldwide—over half of whom live in Pennsylvania—Penn State is not only a driver of talent but also an anchor institution for health care, science, entrepreneurship, and civic life.

Case Study:

Penn State

The Puzzle

In 2024, Penn State University partnered with Parker Strategy Group to quantify the university’s total economic impact across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As the state’s sole land-grant university, Penn State plays a central role in education, workforce development, healthcare, and innovation. But stakeholders—including state officials, local leaders, and Pennsylvanians—needed clear, credible data to fully understand how Penn State’s wide-ranging operations translate into statewide economic growth.

Profile

How we helped

Parker Strategy Group delivered a comprehensive economic contribution study capturing the university’s total $15.8 billion economic impact in FY2023. This impact includes:

$12.9 billion from Penn State’s daily operations
$2 billion in student spending
$864.7 million in visitor spending

The report documented how Penn State supports 109,750 jobs and returns $782.2 million in local and state taxes annually—generating $2.27 in tax revenue for every $1 of state appropriation. We also broke down impact by strategic pillar:

Penn State Health alone generates $7.3 billion in impact and sustains 38,140 jobs
Penn State Research contributes $2.5 billion, supporting 13,032 jobs and advancing innovation
Penn State Athletics drives $754.6 million in impact and supports nearly 6,000 jobs
Alumni living and working in Pennsylvania contribute $14.3 billion in impact and support over 77,000 jobs

These figures underscore Penn State’s reach—not only as an education provider but also as a cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s economic and civic infrastructure.

How It Helped The Client

With its findings, Penn State is equipped to demonstrate its exceptional return on investment to policymakers, business leaders, and the general public. The report strengthens the university’s case for sustained public funding and showcases its vital role in advancing Pennsylvania’s economy, health, and future. As Penn State continues to evolve its mission in a rapidly changing landscape, this analysis affirms its status as one of the Commonwealth’s most important assets—and a force multiplier for prosperity across the state.

View Full Report

Contact

Connect with our team

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.