As a Seton Hill University student, I see firsthand the profound impact of our institution on its students and the greater Greensburg community. Seton Hill is one of more than 80 member schools in the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP). A new 2025 economic impact report reveals that the AICUP sector is a massive engine for Pennsylvania, generating $29 billion in annual economic impact and supporting nearly 200,000 jobs. Seton Hill alone generates about $194 million annually in economic development.
For schools like Seton Hill, AICUP’s mission is vital to student success. Our sector educates 53% of all four-year degree-seeking students and 55% of all minority college students in the state. Furthermore, 47% of our students are from low-income backgrounds.
We are also critical to the workforce, awarding 69% of Pennsylvania’s nursing degrees and 58% of all STEM degrees. Remarkably, we achieve this with no direct appropriation from the state budget, providing a $158 return on investment for every state dollar used for student aid.
Supporting AICUP and its mission is an investment in the “brain gain” that keeps 39,000 graduates working in Pennsylvania annually.
Dustin K. McMullen
Franklin