CSU system proves vital to economy

By Cheryl Hannigan
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer

The California State University Board of Trustees held a meeting on Nov. 16 to 17 in which members evaluated a study of the 23 California State University schools and their economic, social and cultural impact in California. The study provided statistics that prove the CSU system is a vital part of the state.

The study, performed by ICF Consulting, revealed that Cal State spending to educate totals $13.6 billion annually in the state. The system also creates $760 million in taxes. In addition, the CSU system provides employment for 207,000 Californians.

By educating students, graduates of the Cal State system are able to earn better jobs. When the study took into account the impact of the 1.7 million alumni from the Cal State system, the number of jobs supported increased to 527,000. In addition, CSU alumni in the state earn $89 billion in income, $25 billion as a result of earning their degrees. The total tax revenue used in the state rose to $3.11 billion, which is more than the state provides the CSU system. According to the CSU manager of media relations, Clara Potes-Fellow's summary, the system "in effect pays for itself."

The study also concluded that 65 percent of California's business bachelor degrees, 52 percent of agricultural bachelor degrees, 52 percent of communications bachelor degrees and 45 percent of computer and electronic degrees come from the CSU system. Also, 87 percent of teachers and educational staff earn their bachelor's degrees through the CSU system.

The study also showed the diversity of the Cal State system, crediting it as the most diverse university system. Fifty-three percent of enrolled students are members of minority group, which is double the national average for four-year universities. Fifty-eight percent of bachelor's degrees earned by Latinos, 52 percent of degrees earned by African Americans and 39 percent of degrees earned by Asian/Pacific Islanders come from CSU schools.

Cal State Long Beach also has a large impact on the state, as it is the largest of the Cal State schools with just under 35,000 students enrolled.

"I didn't think I could go to a school that has so many different types of people and wasn't expensive," said freshman Wandie Kabule, a political science major at CSULB.

CSULB was ranked one of the top three public master's universities in the West by U.S. News and World Report in its 2005 America's Best Colleges Guide. Also, the fees for

CSULB continue to be lower than any other university in the Cal State system, with undergraduate student fees at $2,658.

"It's great to be able to go to a good school for a low cost that benefits the state," CSULB freshman Jennifer Letus said. Another freshman, Amanda Alpert, feels differently.

"Since I'm a resident at CSULB, I realize that student fees in addition to residence fees still put a huge stress on my parents, not just students."