The University of Illinois serves nearly 70,000 students at three campuses and two satellite medical campuses, employs more than 30,000 faculty, staff and graduate assistants and operates with an annual budget of more than $4 billion. The State of Illinois’ investment in the University is substantial. This report examines the benefits of the University to the state.

The authors of this report have examined separate aspects of the University’s contributions to the state’s economy: the impact of the University’s spending for wages, salaries, materials and services and the contribution of the University’s alumni; the benefits to the economy that result from the greater earning power that higher education brings; and the benefits to the economy of increased worker productivity that a higher education provides.

We have found that:

• the University of Illinois produces about $13.1 billion per year in direct and indirect economic impact on the Illinois economy each year, including the creation of more than 150,000 jobs;
• the University’s alumni, through their own wages and salaries, contribute about $21.2 billion per year to the state’s economy, including more than 265,000 jobs;
   
• the University contributes $13.1 billion in expected increased lifetime earnings for its students each year;
   
• annual activity of the University creates $1.3 billion in future tax revenue to the state at a cost of $726 million, resulting in a net annual gain of about $535 million each year;
   
• each percentage point of population with college degrees adds $911 to average annual per capita income;
   
• there is a long list of non‐monetary benefits received each year by University students and the state at large, including $350 million more in charitable contributions;
   
• and college graduates earn an average 57 percent more than high school graduates.

  View the full report.