According to Ash, investing $800 million in public higher education can create over 13,000 jobs, more jobs than casinos, health care and tax cuts can generate with the same amount of money. The authors also find that public higher education offers a very high return on investment. According to Ash, if the state spends $50,000 on a 4-year degree, the degree would pay back $100,000 because the person is more likely to land a high quality job, contribute more in taxes and is less likely to apply for welfare or public health benefits.
“What makes this study different and important,” according to Ash “is that we quantify the full range of economic benefits and show that investment in public higher education is more productive in both the short and long term than other kinds of state policies, such as tax cuts.”
Each year the department, college, and university award scholarships to deserving students. Scholarship funding comes almost entirely from the generous gifts of our alumni and friends and are intended to recognize the hard work and academic success of our students, as a well as assist them with the expense of their education. This year 25 economics undergraduates were recognized with 33 awards. We congratulate our students on their achievements and thank our alumni and friends for their support.