Adding Vibrancy through Our People: Alumni Staying Power

One of the most significant contributions Washington University in St. Louis makes to its region is the more than 32,000 alumni who live in the St. Louis area, many of whom were first attracted to the community by the University. More than 85 percent of our undergraduates come from the other 49 states and numerous other countries.

Those graduates who remain here to pursue their careers comprise a large, well-educated segment of the professional work force, contributing leadership and expertise in every economic sector. Law, business, engineering, social work, and the arts in St. Louis have all benefited significantly from the strong graduates of these schools as well as from Arts & Sciences. The largest academic unit of the University—Arts & Sciences—has trained many professors, teachers, scientists, communicators, managers, and bankers through its undergraduate and graduate programs. This is important since the future success of our region depends in part on our ability to attract and retain talented young people.

Nearly half of the St. Louis area's physicians have been educated at the Washington University Medical Center. The College of Architecture/Graduate School of Architecture & Urban Design also has educated a high proportion of the region's professionals.

Many alumni are active in St. Louis businesses. A number of important locally headquartered firms have been founded or led by Washington University alumni, including:

• Arch Coal
• Brasch Manufacturing Company
• CPI Corp.
• Commercial Letter
• Ted Drewes, Inc.
• Edward Jones
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car
• Essex Industries
• Fry-Wagner Moving & Storage
• Harbour Group Industries
• Hardee's Food System and CKE Restaurants
• HOK Group/HOK Architects
• Interlock Resources
• Kaldi's Coffee Roasting Co.
• KV Pharmaceutical
• Kwame Building
• Maryville Technologies
• McCarthy Building Companies
• Medicine Shoppe International
• Merisant
• Mills Properties
• Millstone Bangert Construction
• Multiplex Company
• Paric Construction
• Reinsurance Group of America
• Sachs Properties
• Spartan Light Metals
• Stupp Brothers Inc.
• TALX
• William Tao & Associates

In 2009, 32,446 Washington alumni lived and worked in the greater St. Louis area. Assuming that the average family has 1.5 children and two parents, this means that more than 113,561 St. Louisans have direct or family ties to the University.

Because higher education increases earnings, these alumni contribute significantly to the St. Louis economy as consumers and taxpayers. A 2005 report by the U.S. Census Bureau reports average annual earnings of those with a high school diploma at $28,645, those with a bachelor's degree at $51,554, and those with advanced degrees at $78,093.

St. Louis Area Alumni by School/Program
(June 30, 2009)

St. Louis Area Alumni by Geographic Area
(June 30, 2009)

A large number of the remaining 87,080 alumni who do not settle in the St. Louis area maintain ties as they move to other parts of the nation or beyond, spreading the reputation of the region. Many of these alumni will send their sons or daughters to attend Washington University.