You are here
Introduction
Nestled on the northern California coast, Humboldt State University has long been a center of culture and learning in the region. Located in the small town of Arcata, and founded in 1913, Humboldt State University (HSU) has played a vital role in the Humboldt County region for more than 100 years. With close to 8,000 registered students during the 2017-18 academic year, and over 73,000 alumni, the social and economic impact of HSU is significant.
Often the benefit of a University is thought of as only the incalculable value of knowledge and learning that its students receive, however HSU’s impact goes much further. HSU’s existence in the region creates jobs and secondary spending that stimulate the economy. Student spending and, most importantly, the incremental life-time income of its alumni have a significant impact on regional industry activity, employment and tax revenue.
While the economic impacts of the University in terms of regional jobs, industry activity and tax revenues are impressive, they do not include the broader impacts HSU contributes to the region in terms of workforce, innovation, entrepreneurship and community. HSU students and alumni contribute to the workforce in key industries, lead in research and development, start and grow businesses and contribute critical hours to community projects.
To quantify the economic impact of HSU, ICF used the IMPLAN input-output model coupled with data provided by HSU related to university spending, student spending, and alumni. To gather information on the broader impacts of HSU on the region, ICF reviewed University materials, including websites, annual reports, and departmental materials, and conducted selected interviews with university faculty and staff.
This report begins with Chapter 1 which details the quantifiable economic contributions of HSU’s operations, capital expenditures, and student and alumni spending in terms of impact on regional jobs, industry activity and tax revenues. These impacts demonstrate the ways in which HSU impacts its community by stimulating the local economy. Chapter 2 focuses on the ways in which HSU supports the educational pathway, from K-12 though life-long learning for community members and develops a workforce to support regional industries. Chapter 3 describes the ways in which HSU serves as a hub for research and innovation, which in turn sparks regional entrepreneurship and small business development, which is discussed in Chapter 4. Lastly, Chapter 5 provides some key examples of how HSU supports community amenities that make Humboldt a better region in which to live, work, learn, and play.