Even in a difficult economy — perhaps especially in a difficult economy — most will agree that a university degree brings great value in terms of earning potential, career growth opportunities and personal development.
At California State University (CSU), Stanislaus, we believe we confer great value not only to our graduates through the many degrees we offer, but also to our region as a whole. This value manifests in a number of important ways:
• Support for 2,000 jobs in the region (including 1,000 on campus) and 2,300 total throughout the state.
• Generation of more than $8 million in local and $15 million statewide tax revenue each year.
• A total annual economic impact of more than $170 million regionally and $270 million statewide.
• $677 million in alumni earnings attributable to degrees, which creates an additional $1 billion in economic activity throughout the state.
The founding of CSU Stanislaus more than 50 years ago represented a decision with permanent, positive consequences for the Central Valley.
Indeed, through thick and thin, we have been an institution with staying power — one that regional financial projections can count on as a given.
Additionally, the presence of CSU Stanislaus serves as an attraction to business and industry looking to locate here. The more systematically the region and the university partner to increase the production of graduates—now at roughly 2,000 undergraduate diplomas each year—the greater that drawing power.
Nearly 50,000 people have graduated from CSU Stanislaus over the years. More than 80 percent hail from the six counties that make up our primary service area: Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Calaveras, Mariposa, Merced and Tuolumne.
More importantly, most of our graduates elect to stay in the region to build their lives and careers. This is a source of pride for the university, because we are educating a lasting professional workforce for the Central Valley.
CSU Stanislaus alumni work in career fields ranging from business, public service and science, to arts and education. They are CEOs, business owners, nurses, teachers, school administrators, accountants and programmers. Some are mayors, supervisors, city council members and police officers.
However, what truly set our alumni apart are the skills and abilities they develop beyond their specific field of study. Communication, problem solving, critical thinking, integrity, ethics and technological savvy are a few. These attributes enable CSU Stanislaus grads to adapt and succeed year after year, and help our region navigate future challenges that we cannot yet imagine.
As the Central Valley fights its way out of the lingering economic slump, one thing is clear: our ability to recover will be driven in large part by the contributions of CSU Stanislaus alumni.
