Abstract
Universities influence development by providing efficient manpower and expanding the frontiers of knowledge and technical skill as well as advancing technology. This paper examines the effects of universities on economic, cultural, and social development in Hamadan province of Iran. It aims to determine the economic, social, and cultural consequences of establishing universities; to explain the relation between the university founding and city development; and to compare the attitudes of men and women toward the effects of university establishment in urban development. The research method was both qualitative and survey-based, with all cities being selected as its statistical base. Citizens of the cities examined in this study formed the unit of analysis. Using random cluster sampling and a multi-stage method, data was gathered from interviews and questionnaires with 88% reliability. The results indicated that the university impact on urban development included cultural development¬ (55.97%), social¬ development¬ (54.84%), and economic development ¬(43.6%). Regression showed a significant relation between the establishment of a university and urban development. Furthermore, there were no differences in attitude between the two sexes.