Syracuse University in Upstate New York announced the establishment of its new Center for the Creator Economy earlier this week. It is the first academic center of its kind on a college campus to focus on the current creator-driven economic landscape.
The center draws inspiration from new kinds of content creators that have cropped up in recent years, including podcasters, streamers, influencers, and digital artists, who have reshaped the way that products and services are marketed, monetized, and consumed, primarily across social media platforms.
Unlike most sectors today, the creator economy is expected increase to a projected $500 billion by 2027, according to Goldman Sachs, with the global creator community continuing to grow at a compound annual rate between 10 and 20 percent.
“The creator economy represents one of the most significant cultural and commercial transformations of our time,” Mike Haynie, vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and innovation and executive dean of the Whitman School, said in a statement.
His statement continued, “With this bold new center, Syracuse is seizing the opportunity to lead—not follow—in preparing students to thrive at the intersection of creativity, commerce and digital innovation. Today’s college students are more entrepreneurial than ever before, driven to build personal brands that not only generate income but also give them the freedom to be their own boss, set their own hours and shape their own professional potential.”
The university is poised to offer undergraduate and graduate classes in creative content, audience engagement, and digital strategy, as well as additional opportunities geared toward students and professionals.
According to a report from the Pew Research Center, 42 percent of American teenagers earned income through digital channels in 2024. With so many teens already monetizing these platforms, however, it remains unclear whether Syracuse’s offerings will be a useful investment for these up-and-coming college students or whether it will make more sense for those who have yet to capitalize on the moment—perhaps both, or neither.
While there are hardly a handful of top-tier schools offering these kinds of creator economy studies, Columbia Business School hosts conferences and supports research into the creator economy, while faculty at Pennsylvania State University focus their research on the creator economy. Syracuse, however, is the first to start a dedicated program.
The shift in course offerings follows a recent decision to pause admission for 20 undergraduate majors, including fine arts and digital humanities, which received mixed reviews among the university community. “This review comes at a critical moment. We’re in the midst of a rapidly changing landscape in higher education,” Syracuse’s vice chancellor and provost Lois Agnew has previously said of the pause. Agnew added that though the university remains “financially stable,” there are concerns about its survival “if we continue without change”.
