and accepted his new role as president emeritus.
In 2017, a new independent economic study found that APU generates $1.25 billion in economic impact within California each year. Of that, APU contributes $37 million in state taxes each year and supports 7,260 jobs statewide. The report also found approximately 47,500 APU alumni reside within California, increasing the state's productivity and earning power. Of those, 10,600 APU alumni and 600 APU employees live in the San Gabriel Valley.
In 2018, two university board members resigned from the university, citing concerns over financial mismanagement and "theological drift." As of 2018, the credit rating agency Moody's had downgraded its credit rating of APU's bonds to BA1, just above junk status.
On April 10, 2019, APU named Paul W. Ferguson as its 17th president. He began his new role on June 3, 2019.
=== Religious affiliations ===
A small group of Quakers (also known as Friends) and a Methodist evangelist laid the foundation for the Training School for Christian …
