CSU’s Economic Impact on West Georgia Exceeds $322 million

Columbus State University contributed over $322 million to the regional economy in fiscal year 2025, marking nearly a 7% rise from the previous year, as detailed in a new economic impact report by Jeffrey Humphreys, Director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. “As a leading state university in Georgia, we are dedicated to helping make the Chattahoochee Valley a thriving and economically prosperous community,” stated Stuart Rayfield, President of CSU. “Our students and their success are central to this mission. As they study, graduate and make their homes in the area, they drive local innovation and prosperity.” CSU’s FY25 economic impact of $321.9 million sets a new high for the university and contributes to the University System of Georgia’s record $25.1 billion annual economic impact — an 8.9% rise compared to last year. The university's influence on its seven-county West Georgia service area — Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Stewart, Talbot and Troup counties — includes (1) $254.8 million in direct personal spending by students and in university spending on personnel and operations (up 5.8% vs. FY24), and (2) $67.2 million generated through the re-spending of those dollars throughout the region (up 11.1% vs. FY24). Students’ personal expenditures accounted for $30.8 million of the overall re-spending within the local community (up 11.8% vs. FY24). CSU has traditionally been one of the region's key employers. This year’s study highlights its significant employment influence both on campus and across the seven-county area. In FY25, institutional spending supported 2,681 jobs in West Georgia, a slight decrease of 0.8% compared to FY24. Of these, 871 were on-campus university positions, representing a 3.7% increase, while off-campus jobs in the public and private sectors numbered 1,810, down 2.8%. CSU’s job creation closely mirrored the University System of Georgia's trend, meaning that for every on-campus job, institutional spending generated about two off-campus jobs.