Fueled by a booming research ecosystem and expansive public service initiatives, the University of Georgia generated a record $9.2 billion economic impact on its home state in 2025.
This total represents an $800 million increase over the previous year, a surge bolstered by the university’s innovation output and the growing number of graduates contributing to the economy.
“As the state’s flagship institution, the University of Georgia embraces our calling to drive economic development, elevate communities and improve lives,” said UGA President Jere W. Morehead. “I am grateful for the work of our talented faculty, staff and students, as well as our devoted alumni and friends, all of whom contribute to a stronger future for the state of Georgia and its people.”
Now in its ninth year, the university’s economic impact report quantifies the institution’s three-fold mission of teaching, research and service. The study measures the impact of UGA’s teaching mission through graduates’ increased earning potential, the research mission through external funding and startup activity and the service mission through UGA’s vital support of Georgia’s communities, small businesses and farmers.
The study was authored by Michael Adjemian, a professor of agricultural and applied economics in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. He emphasized the $9.2 billion figure is a conservative estimate of the net increase in the size of the state economy due to university activities, from both its ordinary operations as well as its athletic events.
UGA conferred 12,441 undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees in the 2024-2025 academic year, the period the report covers. Those degrees bring increased earnings to graduates and increased tax revenue to the communities in which the graduates reside. According to data from the UGA Alumni Association, nearly two-thirds of UGA alumni live and work in Georgia, where they contribute to the state’s workforce and become leaders in their communities.
For the seventh consecutive year, UGA set a research and development record with $654 million in related expenditures during fiscal year 2025. Using an economic impact model known as IMPLAN, the study estimated that each dollar of funding from federal agencies and out-of-state foundations generated an economic impact of $2.13 as those funds were spent in Georgia on personnel and equipment.
UGA again ranked No. 1 among U.S. universities for the number of products brought to market based on its research in the annual survey by AUTM. In fiscal year 2024, the year of the latest survey data, UGA industry partners and startups developed 69 new products from research, a university record. These products span a range of industries including poultry vaccines, biodegradable plastics, virtual reality tools for disaster preparedness, biomedical research tools and new plant varieties including turfgrass, blueberries, wheats and peanuts.
UGA’s Public Service and Outreach programs are active in every county in Georgia, connecting the university’s expertise and resources with the needs of communities and businesses. Units including the Archway Partnership, the Small Business Development Center, the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development and the Carl Vinson Institute of Government work with communities to identify local challenges such as workforce gaps, infrastructure needs or business development opportunities. Over the past five years, the Small Business Development Center has worked with clients to launch 2,182 new businesses and to create 15,514 jobs.
Further expanding UGA’s impact, UGA Cooperative Extension made nearly 1.7 million in-person contacts in fiscal year 2025. That number includes more than 400,000 agriculture-related contacts as Extension personnel helped farmers manage invasive pests, deploy new technology and maximize yield, among other services.
The report also calculated the economic impact of select UGA athletic programs. Events featuring the university’s football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, gymnastics and baseball teams attracted more than 219,000 out-of-state spectators during their most recent seasons, and those visitors spent money on lodging, food, fuel and other expenses.
“The University of Georgia’s profound impact on the state’s economy is a direct reflection of our faculty, staff and students’ unwavering commitment to our mission of teaching, research and service,” said Benjamin C. Ayers, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. “By integrating world-class instruction, life-changing research and dedicated public service, we are not only enriching the lives of our students but also strengthening Georgia’s communities and the state’s long-term economic vitality.”