Economic Impact

University of Oregon Economic Impact Study

The University of Oregon is a public research university with a statewide mission to advance education, discovery, and service. Its operations extend far beyond campus walls, driving economic activity through: Daily operations and payroll Student spending on housing, goods, and services Research and innovation commercialization Athletics, events, and tourism Alumni contributions and workforce readiness To capture this breadth, the economic impact study examined the flow of dollars associated with UO’s activities and their ripple effects throughout Oregon’s economy.
Case Study:
University of Oregon Economic Impact Study
  The Puzzle
Higher education plays a crucial role in regional economies, but its full economic footprint isn’t always clear to policymakers, communities, or institutional stakeholders. The University of Oregon (UO) sought a comprehensive, data-driven assessment to quantify how its teaching, research, outreach, and operational activities contribute to Oregon’s economy over time. UO commissioned an updated economic impact study in 2025—its first comprehensive economic analysis in over a decade—to provide clarity on how university activity supports jobs, economic output, tax revenues, and broader economic vitality across the state.
  Profile
The University of Oregon is a public research university with a statewide mission to advance education, discovery, and service. Its operations extend far beyond campus walls, driving economic activity through: Daily operations and payroll Student spending on housing, goods, and services Research and innovation commercialization Athletics, events, and tourism Alumni contributions and workforce readiness To capture this breadth, the economic impact study examined the flow of dollars associated with UO’s activities and their ripple effects throughout Oregon’s economy.
How we helped

The 2025 University of Oregon economic impact study employed an input-output modeling approach to estimate the university’s contributions to Oregon’s economy. The analysis captured:

  • Direct university expenditures on operations, payroll, capital projects, and research
  • Student spending that enters the local and state economy
  • Visitor and event-related spending
  • Indirect supply chain effects and induced household spending
  • Jobs supported across industries and communities

This methodology provides both policymakers and institutional leaders with a defensible, multi-sector view of the university’s economic contribution.

How It Helped The Client

The study revealed that during fiscal year 2024:

  • The University of Oregon generated approximately $3.7 billion in total economic contributions to the state economy.
  • UO-related activity supported more than 21,500 jobs statewide.
  • Economic contributions extended beyond university payroll to include research impact, capital investment, student and visitor spending, and broader workforce development effects.
  • UO’s economic contributions rival or lead those of peer institutions within the state.

These results demonstrate that the University of Oregon is not only an educational anchor, but also a major economic engine for the state of Oregon.

The updated economic impact study equipped UO with:

  • A data-driven narrative for policymakers, community partners, and funders
  • A transparent, quantified measure of the university’s statewide economic role
  • Evidence to support budgeting decisions, strategic planning, and legislative engagement

By clearly articulating UO’s economic contributions, the study strengthened the institution’s ability to advocate for sustained investment in education, research, and workforce development.

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