TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KLIX) – A recent study conducted by a Moscow firm highlights the College of Southern Idaho’s impact on the area’s economic and social communities from an educational standpoint. The findings, according to Chris Bragg, associate dean of Institutional Effectiveness, are positive for both the college and community.

The study by Economic Modeling Specialists International was prompted after the State Board of Education asked for an analysis of the state impact of every higher education institution in Idaho. CSI decided to do a study of its own, also conducted by EMSI, of the local impact of the college.

“We wanted to look at our slice of the pie,” Bragg told NewsRadio1310, explaining the focus of the study. “It really looks at what the educational value is of CSI. It does not look at other parts, such as the economic impact of bringing new businesses to town. It’s the educational side of the campus, what the educational value is by having CSI in the community, the value for students who attend CSI, and the economic contributions they bring back to the community once they graduate and stay here to work.”

The 91-page study covers a number of topics from student and taxpayer perspectives, including an economic and investment analysis, the impact of student spending and the social impact of education, among other topics. When a student invests in higher education, for instance, he or she should anticipate annual returns.

“There’s a lot of talk in America today about the cost of higher education, the cost of tuition, the cost of books, about student debt. These are all really good conversations … but there’s another side of the argument. Education is like owning a home; it’s an investment. And there’s a return on that investment.”

In return for their investment in CSI, according to the study, students will receive higher future earnings that will continue to grow throughout their working lives. Graduates with an associate’s degree will see earnings of $4,900 each year over someone with only a high school diploma or equivalent experience.

The study lists the average annual rate of return for CSI students’ education to be 12.1 percent, whereas the number is 9.1 percent for a landlord who rents property and 7.2 percent for someone who invests 10 years in the stock market.

Other findings of the study: CSI and its students added more than $225 million in additional income to the local economy, and the accumulated contribution of former CSI students currently employed in the regional workforce is more than $185 million.

Also according to the study, as people achieve higher education levels they are statistically less likely to commit crime or turn to drugs or alcoholism. Likewise, the prevalence of emotional distress lessons with a higher educated community. Bragg said the social impact of education is one of the topics the college may take a deeper look at in the future, and now it will be able to use the current analysis as a starting point.

The study was conducted June-December 2015 by EMSI and uses data from CSI’s 2013-14 school year. For an overview, see the fact sheet. The complete study will be posted on the CSI website sometime within the next week, Bragg said.

“For now, we want to digest this and look at some of the more interesting parts of the study, such as the social impacts of education, the social savings of it,” he said. “This is a very conservative study. We know, for instance, that our economic impact is much broader.”

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