News Release
Feb. 7, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Harper, (602) 402-1341, sarah.k.harper@azregents.edu

Julie Newberg, (602) 686-1803, julie.newberg@azregents.edu

New Independent Analysis: Arizona Public Universities an $11.1 Billion
Economic Powerhouse

Study Says Public University System Supports 84,000 Jobs
Phoenix, Ariz. - A new, independent economic and fiscal impact analysis, prepared by Elliot D.
Pollack & Co. in partnership with the Maguire Company, finds Arizona State University,
Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona were responsible for more than
$11.1 billion in total economic impact and 84,000 jobs during fiscal year 2017.
“This report clearly demonstrates the impact Arizona public universities have on the state’s
economy,” said Ron Shoopman, Arizona Board of Regents chair. “However, our three
universities represent so much more for the state as we train the next generation that will
discover and develop new technology, medicines, procedures and products that will improve
our health and make our communities better places to live.”
The analysis calculated the direct, indirect and induced economic and fiscal impacts resulting
from Arizona public universities’ operations, research activities and spending by employees,
students and the universities. Among the findings for fiscal year 2017:
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Public university students spent an estimated $2 billion on housing, utilities, groceries
and other items, supporting nearly 20,000 jobs and $3 billion in total economic impact.
Spending by university faculty and staff supported more than 11,000 jobs and
economic impact totaling $1.7 billion.
University research at ASU, NAU and UA resulted in total economic impact exceeding
$2 billion.
Non-resident students’ and out-of-state visitors’ spending supports more than 2,000
jobs and resulted in $181 million in economic output.
The annual operations of the universities (including faculty, student and visitor
spending) generate a wide range of tax revenues for the state, counties, cities and
other local governments in Arizona, generating an estimated $451 million in collected
tax revenue.
The incremental economic impact of the enterprise activities funded by out-of-state
visitors and sources produced $3.8 billion in economic output.

Arizona Board of Regents   2020 N. Central Avenue, Suite 230   Phœnix, AZ 85004 (602) 229-2500   AZRegents.edu

 In comparison, the direct, indirect and induced impacts of Arizona’s principal military
operations generated in fiscal 2014 approximately $11.5 billion in economic output and
76,714 jobs. 1 In terms of sporting events, the impact of Arizona’s public universities enterprise
is equivalent to the economic impact of:

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Hosting NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four 36 times.
The economic impact of 14 Super Bowls.
Thirty-five Fiesta Bowls.

“Through education, research and service, Arizona’s public universities are fueling the state’s
economy,” said ABOR Executive Director John Arnold. “The universities are also major
employers in the state and spark significant business development, both of which contribute
to the expansion of the state’s tax base.”
The analysis captured both the direct spending of the universities, faculty, students and
visitors, as well as the indirect and induced effect of those expenditures on the local economy.
The study did not, however, account for every possible impact, including spin-off businesses
created by university faculty and students; wages of university graduates (estimated at $18.6
billion in 2018); or the contributions of employers that locate in Arizona to be near the
universities.
While the results of the impact analysis are substantial and significant, the conservative
methodology employed ensures that the reported economic impacts of the Arizona Public
University Enterprise are more likely to understate the impacts rather than overstate them. Full
information on methodology is detailed in the report.
Click here to view the full Economic and Fiscal Impact of the Arizona Public University
Enterprise Report and report methodology. Access the report summary here.
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Source: Economic and Fiscal Impact of Hosting Major Sporting Events on the State of Arizona, December 2013

Arizona Board of Regents   2020 N. Central Avenue, Suite 230   Phœnix, AZ 85004 (602) 229-2500   AZRegents.edu