91ÊÓƵ

When Ohio's 14 public universities make their case to policymakers, families, and employers, the numbers tell a compelling story: a $68.9 billion economic engine supporting 866,782 jobs statewide, and tens of thousands of newly trained professionals entering the workforce each year.

That $68.9 billion in added income to the Ohio economy—equivalent to about 8.8% of the state's total gross state product—comes from multiple sources: day-to-day operations, construction, clinical and research activities, entrepreneurial ventures, visitor spending, and the enhanced productivity of university alumni. To put this in perspective, the economic impact generated by Ohio's public universities is larger than the entire Health Care & Social Assistance industry in the state. Put another way: one out of every eight jobs in Ohio is supported by the universities and their activities.

This economic engine is powered by 117,973 full-time and part-time employees across the system who earn $7.7 billion in payroll and benefits annually. The universities also spend $5.8 billion on goods and services, with an additional $5.9 billion flowing through affiliated medical centers.

For Kent State, this is more than a talking point. It's the daily work of preparing students for careers in nursing, engineering, education, and advanced manufacturing—fields where Ohio's demand is urgent and wages are strong.

Meeting Ohio's Workforce Challenge

By 2030, Ohio will face a critical shortage: more than a million new workers will be needed across the state. The gap is real. The timeline is short. And Ohio's public universities are already mobilizing to meet the challenge.

Each institution—including Kent State—plays a distinct role in cultivating the innovators, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals Ohio's economy demands. 91ÊÓƵalone prepares thousands of teachers, nurses, engineers, and other professionals for communities from the Mahoning Valley to Cleveland.

The universities are investing nearly $2 billion annually in research that fuels startups, launches spin-off companies, and creates thousands of high-wage jobs. In fiscal year 2021-22, research spending alone generated $1.9 billion in added income for the Ohio economy and supported 24,460 jobs. Start-up and spin-off companies related to the universities added another $1.7 billion in income and 15,238 jobs.

That research doesn't stay in university labs. It translates into real innovation in manufacturing, agriculture, cybersecurity, water resources, and healthcare.

Advanced Manufacturing and Real-World Learning

Ohio has long been known for manufacturing. But manufacturing isn't what it was decades ago.

Today's manufacturing is smart. It's digital. It requires engineers who understand not just machines, but data, robotics, and systems thinking. It demands technicians trained in the latest equipment. And it needs leaders who can drive innovation in an intensely competitive global market.

Ohio's 14 public universities are redefining workforce development to meet this reality. Through partnerships with regional manufacturers, hands-on learning environments, and curriculum tied directly to employer needs, they're preparing the next generation to keep Ohio competitive.

The result: a $68.9 billion annual economic impact, 866,782 jobs supported statewide, and $1.9 billion generated through research alone.

Healthcare: Meeting a Statewide Crisis

Ohio faces a healthcare staffing crisis. Rural communities lack doctors. Urban hospitals struggle to fill nursing positions. Clinics can't find enough mental health professionals. The shortage isn't temporary—it's systemic and growing.

Ohio's 14 public universities are responding. Through hospitals and affiliated medical centers, the universities employ 5.9 billion dollars in payroll and operational expenses. Each year, they train more than 40,000 new health professionals—nurses, physicians, physician assistants, mental health counselors, and specialists across every medical discipline. In fiscal year 2021-22 alone, the clinical operations of university-affiliated medical centers generated $6.9 billion in added income for the state and supported 78,323 jobs.

That pipeline isn't theoretical. It's filling real gaps in real hospitals and clinics across the state.

Kent State's College of Nursing is part of this effort, preparing nurses for positions in hospitals, community health centers, and clinics across Ohio. The university's College of Public Health and Health Sciences is training the next generation of public health professionals. And partnerships with regional medical centers provide the hands-on learning environments where students develop the skills healthcare systems desperately need.

The American Dream, Reimagined for Ohio

For Ohio's public universities, the belief is enduring: a college education should remain within reach for Ohioans who are willing to work for it. And the investment pays off.

According to a comprehensive economic impact analysis, students investing in a degree from Ohio's public universities receive a return of $5.60 in higher future earnings for every dollar invested—an annual rate of return of 16.2%. For taxpayers, the picture is equally compelling: for every tax dollar spent educating students, taxpayers receive an average of $4.60 in return over the course of those students' working lives through increased tax revenue and reduced demand for social services.

Over the past decade, these universities have kept tuition costs low relative to national averages, worked aggressively to remove barriers to earning a degree, and focused relentlessly on preparing graduates for careers that pay. Financial aid, flexible enrollment options, career counseling, and support services exist not as nice additions but as core commitments.

91ÊÓƵexemplifies this approach. The university's "I Am First" program supports first-generation college students—removing the uncertainty and isolation that can derail talented students. Need-based aid helps make enrollment affordable. And career development services ensure that the credentials students earn translate into opportunity.

National Security and Ohio's Strategic Role

In an era of geopolitical uncertainty, Ohio's public universities play a role that extends far beyond state borders.

Each year, these universities enroll tens of thousands of military-connected students—veterans, active-duty service members pursuing education, and family members of the military. This student population represents a vital leadership pipeline for the U.S. military and national security agencies.

Beyond enrollment, Ohio's research enterprise directly supports national defense. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, located near the Miami Valley region, partners with Ohio universities on cutting-edge research in aerospace, materials science, and cybersecurity. NASA Glenn Research Center collaborates with universities on propulsion systems and advanced manufacturing. And classified research at academic institutions contributes to America's technological edge in a dangerous world.

The Ripple Effect

The impact of Ohio's 14 public universities extends far beyond enrollment statistics and job placement rates. It shows up in hospitals that can staff emergency departments. It appears in communities where young leaders choose to stay and build careers. It emerges in startups and spin-off companies that compete nationally and globally. It's visible in the research breakthroughs that solve real-world problems.

The cumulative impact of alumni currently employed in Ohio's workforce is particularly striking: former students of these universities have generated $52.6 billion in added income for the Ohio economy—equivalent to supporting 648,329 jobs. These alumni represent decades of human capital investment paying dividends across every sector of the state.

For 91ÊÓƵand universities across Ohio, this is the case for college in the 21st century: education as economic engine, community anchor, and pathway to possibility for every Ohioan willing to reach for it.