Study: Doubling UA engineering, computer grads would grow state GDP

Doubling the number of engineering and computer science graduates at the University of Arkansas College of Engineering from 2024 to 2035, along with doubling research and development spending and doubling patents, could add $3.9 billion to the state’s economy and 19,000 jobs by 2039.

That’s according to a study released Tuesday (Nov. 19) by Heartland Forward that was developed in collaboration with the UA College of Engineering.

The study also found a 50% increase would add $2.4 billion to the state’s gross domestic product and 12,000 jobs by 2039. Each additional engineering or computer science job could add $203,000 to the state GDP.

The study, “Engineers, Computers, Scientists and Data Scientists as Drivers of Economic Growth,” was released during a press conference hosted by Heartland Forward’s Ross DeVol, one of the report’s authors. The organization, which is based in Northwest Arkansas, describes itself as a “think and do tank” for states and communities in 20 states in the middle of the country.

The report found the College of Engineering has a $107.6 million total effect on the regional economy, along with $40 million in earnings and 851 jobs. Its effect on the state economy is $125.6 million with $45.2 million in earnings and 953 indirect jobs. The college represents .3% of the region’s economy and .07% of the state’s economy.

The report said that workers trained in engineering and computer science are among the economy’s most productive. Across the country, engineering and computer science degree holders have average lifetime earnings that are $1 million more than social science or life science graduates and $2 million more than the average high school graduate.

The report said the three-year rolling average of bachelor’s degrees awarded by the University of Arkansas College of Engineering increased from 275 in 2011 to 623 in 2023. Research expenditures increased from $20.7 million in 2014 to $43.9 million in 2023.

However, the increase is not meeting the need, nor is it allowing Arkansas to keep pace with other states. The state will have nearly 58,000 open science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs by 2028.

The report asserts that average GDP per worker in Arkansas increased from $86,500 in 2012 to $111,600 in 2021. Activities that can be attributed to engineering colleges accounted for 27.7% of that $30,100 increase.

Nationally, state-level annual gross domestic product per worker rose from $11,575 to $141,907 during that time period.

The report said the state has consistently had among the lowest shares of the workforce with degrees in engineering or computer science. It cites another report finding that the state has only 48% of the engineers expected relative to the size of its labor force. The state also produces a low rate of Ph.D.s in engineering and computer science, reducing the potential number of faculty members needed to increase the size of its engineering colleges. Arkansas is also below the national average in university research and development in engineering and computer sciences.

Dr. Kim Needy, dean of the UA College of Engineering, warned that other states have increased their educational investments, specifically citing Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and Oklahoma.

“They are not standing still,” she said. “We cannot stand still. That is not an option for us. Because as we stand still and others get ahead, we are getting behind. We need to be leaders in the heartland.”

Needy said that increasing the number of graduates will require cooperation from educational establishments, industry, government and philanthropy. Arkansas’ close-knit nature will help.

“The smallness of our state compared to many others is a big strength because we can gather people together and get this done,” she said.

Needy said the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville graduates more than half of the state’s engineering graduates each year, but the College of Engineering can’t double in size. The state needs engineering programs at other colleges to grow as well.

In an interview afterwards, Needy said one key to increasing the number of College of Engineering graduates is helping more students successfully complete their educations. She said 53% of the College of Engineering’s students graduate in six years. While some of the others earn degrees in other fields or transfer to other institutions, “If we can simply graduate everybody who starts, we would double,” she said.

The college has started an Engineering One-Stop program designed to improve student retention. The program includes tutoring services, coaching, and career advising.

One potential growth area is female students. Currently, 24% of the college’s students are females, although some disciplines like biomedical have higher percentages, while electrical and mechanical disciplines have fewer.

Patrick Schueck, president and CEO of steel fabricator Lexicon and a UA College of Engineering graduate, told event attendees that engineering is a difficult major to complete, but it prepares students for their careers.

“Getting a degree in engineering, what it allows you to do, it allows you to understand that you are a capable individual that can take complex problems, analyze the data, and come up with intricate solutions to those complex problems,” he said.