An economic impact study released last week detailed the benefits Ohio University has on the state and how its regional campuses make a difference in the communities where they are located.

Regional campuses account for 10,050 of the total number of students and a $173.9 million economic impact. The total impact on the state economy is $1.5 billion.

Dr. Craig Cornell, vice provost of enrollment management at Ohio University, presented the study’s findings and preliminary enrollment numbers Friday at a meeting of the board of trustees.

“Overall it was very positive for the university as a whole and for the Southern campus here in Ironton,” Dr. Dan Evans, interim dean of Ohio University Southern, said. “Although we won’t know the actual numbers for a couple more weeks, the projected (enrollment) numbers are looking great.”

Evans was speaking specifically about enrollment, financial impact and job creation.

According to the study, Ohio’s five regional campuses and two centers create a total of 1,600 jobs and students pay an average of $5,022 per year for tuition; about half the cost of tuition in Athens.

“The study shows a lot of records being broken,” Evans said. “It’s a good time for the Ohio University system.”

The anticipated preliminary enrollment of all Ohio University’s campuses and centers is a record-breaking 39,000, which includes another record of 4,209 incoming freshmen.