New Report Reveals Surprising Facts About Pennsylvania's Higher Ed: 80+ AICUP Schools Lead the State Economy, Create Jobs and Industries

Release Date: August 11, 2025

(Harrisburg, PA) - The largest sector of higher education in Pennsylvania -The Association of Independent Nonprofit Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania ("AICUP")- announced today the completion of a new report revealing the scale and impact of the state's 80+ independent nonprofit schools. The report, which was analyzed and prepared independently by the Parker Strategy Group, shows that the AICUP sector represents:
• > 200,000 jobs created and sustained by AICUP schools; among the Top Employers in PA
• $29 billion annual economic contrition by AICUP schools ($65 billion with affiliated hospitals)
• 7% of Pennsylvania's economy when including AICUP schools' teaching hospitals ("eds and meds")
• 158 to 1 Return on Investment of state dollars by AICUP schools: $158 returned on each $1 invested. (The vast majority of those state dollars are scholarship grants to lower-income students).
• 9 of the 15 Small Business Development Centers in Pennsylvania are located on an AICUP member campus, sparking local innovation and empowering entrepreneurs to launch job-generating startups.
• AICUP schools together educate 53% of all students in Pennsylvania seeking a four-year degree and educate 279,000 students total every year.
• The largest proportion of lower-income students in the state (47%), creating real mobility.

"These schools lead the state and do the heavy lifting for Pennsylvania by creating jobs and attracting talent to the state," said Tom Foley, AICUP's president and a former Secretary of Labor and Industry of Pennsylvania. "The fact is, the AICUP schools are the lifeblood that keep dozens of towns in Pennsylvania thriving."

The 28-page AICUP economic impact report, now available online, includes new details about:
• Job creation, and a map showing the PA counties where AICUP schools are the top employer
• Student demographic data and percentages of students pursuing in-demand careers
• AICUP's infusion of research dollars through science and health grants, launching new industries
• Local and state tax revenues generated by AICUP schools ($1.5 Billion), helping communities thrive
• Philanthropic contributions, student volunteer hours, and examples of community partnerships
• Regional impact breakout where readers can find the impact of local AICUP schools.

Curious Comparisons: AICUP's $29 billion annual economic contribution -which adds to the state's economy-- is larger than the annual budget of 28 US States; AICUP's $65 billion eds and meds annual economic contribution is larger than the annual budget of Pennsylvania and 40 other States, and even rivals dozens of nations' GDPs. The PA Chamber of Business and Industry independently cited higher education as the "5th largest industry in Pennsylvania," and AICUP makes up more than half of higher education in Pennsylvania.

View the full AICUP Economic Impact Report
at the web link here or scan the QR code:
https:
//aicup.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/AICUP-Economic-Impact-Report-8.1.2025-single-pages
.pdf

____________________________________________________________________
Media Kit and Resources:
• Media graphics and key facts, included in the report, are also spotlighted here by region.
• List of the 80+ AICUP member schools with a state map, school logos. AICUP logo.
• Schedule an interview with AICUP President Tom Foley (biography, photo), Parker Strategy Group,
or AICUP board officers Doug Lee (President, Waynesburg University), Elizabeth Meade (President, Cedar Crest College), Chris Domes (President, Neumann university), by contacting Tony Gilbert at AICUP at (717) 232-8649 x.232 or email: Gilbert [at] aicup.org.

Media Contact: Tony Gilbert
Phone: (717) 232-8649 ext. 232
Email: Gilbert [at] AICUP.org

# # #

AICUP
101 N Front St
Harrisburg, PA 17101
United States

AICUP comprises more than 80 nonprofit and independent colleges and universities throughout Pennsylvania.

This release was published on openPR.