This study attempted to determine whether or not the location of states' public universities makes a difference in state population growth and by inference, in state economic growth. Specifically the study examined the effect of the size of the host community relative to the state population or the proportion of the state's population that resides in the university host community. The study included state public universities established before 1940, listed in "World Almanac," and found in the 48 contiguous states. The Bureau of the Census provided data for the analysis. That analysis employed statistical analysis and visualization of relationships in scatterplots. These showed that for every 10 percent increase of state's population residing in university communities, a state's population growth rate will increase by 2.6 percentage points. The study concluded that states have a higher return on their public investment if their universities are located in large metropolitan areas. Includes extensive tables and figures and a 22-item bibliography. (JB)