Jersey City, N.J. – October 19, 2017 – Saint Peter’s University today released a Community Impact Report, which details the University’s position as a driver of economic, social and environmental growth in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey and beyond. The report reveals that Saint Peter’s has an annual economic output of $393 million and is a leader in creating opportunity, advancing innovation and building community engagement.
Saint Peter’s University is ranked among the top 20 private employers in Jersey City and currently employs 635 individuals. Saint Peter’s not only fuels the local economy with direct and indirect spending, but it also serves as a generator of a highly skilled workforce. While New Jersey currently holds the title of one of the biggest exporters of college students, Saint Peter’s is serving as a vehicle to keep students and graduates in the state. The University continues to attract the majority of its students from within the state and more than 20,000 of the University’s 31,000 alumni remain residents. The financial power of these graduates affects nearly every aspect of New Jersey’s economy.
“The impressive economic impact of Saint Peter’s on the local and state level is news to be touted, but the story doesn’t start there,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University. “The story begins with our Jesuit mission that calls on us to provide opportunities for individuals with the odds stacked against them. Through data, the Community Impact Report reveals that our commitment to our mission enables us to enroll and graduate students who may have otherwise not had the chance to succeed in the higher education system. These students ultimately go on to become leaders in their fields with a passion to change the world.”
In a recent study published by The New York Times, Saint Peter’s University was ranked eighth in the nation for the highest mobility rate of graduates among 578 selective private colleges. The University was recognized as a national leader for boosting low-income students into the middle and upper classes in The Equality of Opportunity Project study.
The University is also advancing innovation in STEM fields and environmental initiatives. Saint Peter’s has received $5.3 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Education and the National Science Foundation, Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program to strengthen the pipeline of STEM graduates and respond to the critical need for K-12 teachers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. In terms of the Saint Peter’s environmental impact, the University has received national recognition for cutting-edge sustainability initiatives.
Saint Peter’s influence on the local community is clearly evident. Students of the University are encouraged to embrace a lifelong commitment to service so they may gain a better understanding of Ignatian values, which are at the core of a Jesuit education. Each year, more than 900 students contribute a combined total of approximately 50,000 hours of service to local, national and global organizations. In 2015, the University was the only institution in New Jersey to be recognized on the President’s Higher Education Honor Roll in all four categories.
To view the full report, please visit saintpeters.edu/impact.
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Saint Peter’s University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment.
Media Contact
Angeline Boyer
aboyer1@saintpeters.edu
(201) 761-6238