The University System of Georgia (USG) generated a record $25.1 billion for the state’s economy in Fiscal Year 2025 — an 8.9% increase over last year, according to a new economic impact report. At the same time, a companion study shows a USG degree continues to pay off for students, adding more than $1.4 million to a graduate’s lifetime earnings. “A USG degree isn’t just a diploma. It’s a game-changer for our students and a major win for Georgia’s economy,” USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue said. “Adding $25 billion to the state and giving our graduates a $1.4 million lifetime boost shows the real power of public higher education. When our students succeed, they put strong skills, a great work ethic and real value right back into Georgia communities.” The $25.1 billion total economic impact for FY 2025 marks a substantial jump from $23.1 billion in FY 2024. It includes $16.3 billion in direct spending by students and by USG’s 25 institutions on personnel and operating costs, alongside an additional $8.8 billion generated in local communities as those dollars ripple through the broader economy. The study found that USG generated 170,096 jobs across Georgia. For each job a USG institution creates on its campus, two additional jobs are created in the local community. Data also continued to show that USG and its institutions create about the same employment impact in the state as Georgia’s top five employers combined. The companion study found that bachelor’s graduates from the Class of 2025 will earn, on average, over $1.4 million more than they would without a college degree. The findings confirm how much each level of higher education can add to a USG graduate’s total earnings throughout their lives. They offer evidence about how earnings increase substantially with each step up in earned degree. On average, each credential generates additional earnings over a USG graduate’s lifetime by:
Certificate: +$308,988
Associate degree: +$388,458
Bachelor’s degree: +$ 1,421,971
Master’s degree: +$1,730,419
Professional degree: +$2,803,575
Ph.D.: +$2,389,806
Based on work-life earnings estimates for Georgia, the analysis showed that USG graduates from the Class of 2025 can expect combined lifetime earnings of $249 billion, $77 billion more than they would have earned had they not completed college or graduate school. High school graduates who obtain a bachelor’s degree will boost their work-life earnings in Georgia by 80%, exceeding the 77% increase estimated for the nation. Both studies were conducted on behalf of USG by Jeffrey Humphreys, Director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. The average increase in lifetime earnings varies year to year for each graduating class, depending on how many bachelor’s degrees are awarded relative to other degree categories. If factoring in less-than-four-year degrees for the Class of 2025, the average amount of extra earnings is over $1 million.
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