As the state college and university system prepares to ask the legislature and governor-elect for a funding increase, they’ve released a study that concludes the Minnesota State system contributed eight billion dollars to the state’s economy in 2017. Consulting firm Parker Philips says for every dollar in state appropriation, Minnesota State generates almost 12 dollars in economic activity. “The 12-dollar mark is about average, is what I would say…. It’s about an average return,” says researcher Nichole Parker. The study says the state college and university system supports or sustains nearly 68 thousand jobs — one of out every 55 in Minnesota