Important Economic Impact

Through its expenditures, its employment of more than 13,975 people, and its construction activities, Washington University in St. Louis has a substantial impact on the area economy.

In fiscal year 2011, which ended June 30, 2011, Washington University had a direct annual impact of more than $2 billion on the local economy.

Washington University Expenditures*
(Fiscal Year 2011)

*Does not include cooperating Medical Center institutions.
**Does not include noncash depreciation expenses, which do not impact the community's economy.

Significant Impact on the Community's Economy
• $2.2 billion
In 2003 the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association (RCGA) used an economic model to assess Washington University's 2002 economic impact on the St. Louis metropolitan area. Based on this model, the University generated nearly $1.2 billion from its operation, while its students spent approximately $46 million in the area. The economic activity of the University and its students indirectly supported an additional 5,297 jobs outside the University. The RCGA concluded that the overall economic impact of Washington University on the St. Louis metropolitan area in 2002 was $2.2 billion.

St. Louis Area Employee Compensation
• $1.2 billion
The total of full- and part-time employees is 13,975; the full-time equivalent is 12,006. Washington University is the third-largest private employer in the St. Louis metropolitan area, according to the St. Louis Business Journal Book of Lists 2010. The University's payroll (excluding student payroll and stipends to fellows) for fiscal year 2011 exceeded $951 million. Of this amount, more than $786 million was earned by employees living in St. Louis City and County.

Annual Payroll for St. Louis Area Employees of Washington University*
(Year Ending June 30, 2011)

*Does not include benefits or cooperating Medical Center institutions.

When adding the value of more than $222 million in benefits, this impact increases to $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2011.

Employees of Washington University in St. Louis paid an estimated $6.7 million in city payroll taxes in fiscal year 2011.

Operating Expenditures
• $800 million
Most nonsalary operating expenditures (including student payroll and stipends to fellows) at Washington University are spent in metropolitan St. Louis. In fiscal year 2011 these expenditures were $800 million.

Construction
• $155 million
Washington University in St. Louis adds to its facilities through new construction, property acquisitions, leasings, and renovations of existing space. Over the past decade, the University has constructed or acquired nearly 4.92 million square feet of new buildings, student housing, parking garages, classrooms, and offices to its Danforth Campus and 2.76 million square feet at its Medical Campus. For fiscal year 2011, construction and other capital outlays equaled $155 million. These expenditures were added to the value of the University's physical plant, which was $3.4 billion on June 30, 2011.

Research Awards and Patents
• $617.6 million
Washington University in St. Louis is a magnet for research funds. In fiscal year 2011 Washington University was awarded $617 million in total research support. Washington University faculty attracts nearly 80 percent of all NIH research dollars awarded to Missouri universities and other organizations.

Student Financial Assistance
• $198 million awarded
Approximately 60 percent of all Washington University in St. Louis undergraduates and 39 percent of graduate and professional students receive some form of financial assistance, some based on merit alone and many others based on merit and family financial circumstances. Financial assistance may be in the form of scholarships, loans, grants, or work-study positions. Total financial aid awarded in academic year 2010-11 exceeded $198 million. In this year 1,357 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who came from St. Louis City, Clayton, University City, and the rest of St. Louis County before attending Washington University received more than $41.1 million in financial assistance.

Financial Aid for Students from St. Louis and Other Areas
(Based on zip codes for permanent addresses of students enrolled in academic year 2010-11. Does not include undergraduate students who moved to these municipalities while attending Washington University.)

Student Spending
• $72 million
Washington University in St. Louis had 15,367 students in academic year 2010-11. Many of these students were living and shopping in the local area: 3,901 in St. Louis City, 4,157 in Clayton, 3,113 in University City, 2,021 in the rest of St. Louis County, 326 in the rest of the St. Louis metropolitan area in Missouri, and 255 in the rest of the St. Louis metropolitan area in Illinois.

In 2003 the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association estimated that the total economic impact of spending by Washington University students at $72 million annually.

Support of Municipalities
• $4.1 million
In fiscal year 2011 Washington University in St. Louis paid $3.8 million for fire protection and ambulance services, sewer fees, utility taxes on gas and electricity, and licenses and permits. Also in fiscal year 2011 Quadrangle Management Company, a real estate title holding company of Washington University, paid $314,150 in real estate taxes for income-producing properties not used for educational purposes. This brings total payments for support of municipalities in fiscal year 2011 to $4.1 million. In addition, the University supports, at its expense, its own police forces on both the Danforth and Medical Campuses.