Graduates from the Colorado State University campuses represent a significant portion of Colorado’s workforce and contribute hundreds of millions to the state economy, according to the first-ever CSU system economic impact report.

To compile the report, CSU hired a team of economists – led by CSU faculty Drs. Rebecca Hill, Harvey Cutler and Martin Shields – to quantify the impact of CSU Fort Collins, CSU Pueblo and the online CSU Global campus.

“The CSU System’s economic impact is felt statewide by bringing in money from federal agencies, out-of-state students, and by transferring knowledge to businesses and industries across Colorado,” the report said.

The report found that most CSU graduates enter and stay in the state’s workforce. Of students who moved to Colorado to attend CSU since 2005, 50% have stayed. And of students who already lived in Colorado, 86% have stayed.

This has resulted in more than 112,250 living CSU alumni currently working in the state, accounting for nearly 1 in 25 Colorado workers.

This chunk of Colorado’s workforce earned $7.57 billion in 2019, generating over $209 million in state income tax revenue and $128 million in sales, use and excise tax revenue, the report said.

That means 3% of the state’s tax revenue can be attributed directly to CSU graduates.

“CSU plays a critical role in our state’s future productivity and ability to remain an innovation hub in economically important industries,” said CSU System Chancellor Tony Frank. “We’re not manufacturing a product; we’re educating people who contribute to society.”

In addition, the CSU system is responsible for nearly 23,000 jobs and $237.74 million in annual state income and sales tax revenue, according to the report.

In Fort Collins, CSU students not originally from the city spend $319.1 million in the community annually. Student spending, in addition to university business and operations, generates $36 million in annual tax revenue for the city.

The business spin-off and increases in regional productivity stemming from CSU generate an additional 645 jobs and $25.3 million in household income for Larimer County, the report said. 

A similar influence is evident in Pueblo where student spending is estimated at $61.43 million annually, generating $2.4 million in tax revenue. The university also directly employs 712 workers in the city with a payroll of $42.5 million.

The full report is available at csusystem.edu.