Important Economic Impact

Through its expenditures, its employment of more than 13,463 people, and its construction activities, Washington University in St. Louis has a substantial impact on the area economy.

In fiscal year 2009, which ended June 30, 2009, Washington University had a direct annual impact of more than $1.8 billion on the local economy.

Washington University Expenditures*
(Fiscal Year 2008)

*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
• $1.1 billion
The total of full- and part-time employees is 13,463; the full-time equivalent is 11,527. Washington University is the fourth-largest private employer in the St. Louis metropolitan area, according to the St. Louis Business Journal Book of Lists 2008. The University's payroll (excluding student payroll and stipends to fellows) for fiscal year 2009 exceeded $858.4 million. Of this amount, more than $707.9 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, 2009)

*Does not include benefits or cooperating Medical Center institutions.

When adding the value of more than $195.1 million in benefits, this impact increases to $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2009.

Employees of Washington University in St. Louis paid an estimated $6.1 million in city payroll taxes in fiscal year 2009.

Operating Expenditures
• $736 million
Most nonsalary operating expenditures (including student payroll and stipends to fellows) at Washington University are spent in metropolitan St. Louis. In fiscal year 2009 these expenditures were $736 million.

Construction
• $266.8 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 4.45 million square feet of new buildings, parking garages, classrooms, and offices to its Danforth Campus and 2.4 million square feet at its Medical Campus. For fiscal year 2009, construction and other capital outlays equaled $266.8 million. These expenditures were added to the value of the University's physical plant, which was $3.1 billion on June 30, 2009. Using areawide data provided by the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association, new University construction led to the employment of an estimated 8,269 people in the St. Louis metropolitan area last year.

Research Awards and Patents
• $548.4 million
Washington University in St. Louis is a magnet for research funds. In fiscal year 2008 Washington University was awarded $548.4 million in total research support, including $440 million in federal obligations. According to preliminary data from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for fiscal year 2008, Washington University faculty attracts nearly 80 percent of all NIH research dollars awarded to Missouri universities and other organizations.

According to the most recent survey conducted by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for its fiscal year 2007, Washington University in St. Loui s ranks 18th among universities in total science and engineering research expenditures and 7th among private universities.

Research at Washington University in St. Louis has led to the transfer of technology to the public through patents, license and option agreements, and industry-sponsored research agreements. Income from licensing activities for fiscal year 2007 totaled $10.4 million. A total of 50 revenue-generating license agreements were executed during the year, bringing the number of active licenses under management to more than 600. Also during this fiscal year, the University received over 100 invention disclosures and filed 70 new patent applications. With leverage provided by the investment and development efforts of the private sector, these activities serve as a major vehicle for bringing the results of the University's research programs to the public.

Student Financial Assistance
• $180 million awarded
Approximately 64 percent of all Washington University in St. Louis undergraduates and 48 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 2007-08 exceeded $180 million. In this year 1,527 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 $45 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 2007-08. Does not include undergraduate students who moved to these municipalities while attending Washington University.)

Student Spending
• $72 million
Washington University in St. Louis had 13,186 students in academic year 2008-09. Many of these students were living and shopping in the local area: 3,265 in St. Louis City, 3,453 in Clayton, 2,617 in University City, 1,721 in the rest of St. Louis County, 296 in the rest of the St. Louis metropolitan area in Missouri, and 229 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
• $3.39 million
In fiscal year 2008 Washington University in St. Louis paid $3.1 million for fire protection and ambulance services, sewer fees, utility taxes on gas and electricity, and licenses and permits. Also in fiscal year 2008 Quadrangle Management Company, a real estate title holding company of Washington University, paid $287,396 in real estate taxes for income-producing properties not used for educational purposes. This brings total payments for support of municipalities in fiscal year 2008 to $3.39 million. In addition, the University supports, at its expense, its own police forces on both the Danforth and Medical Campuses.

Visiting Patients and Their Families
• More than 11,000 hospital patients from outside the area
The Washington University Medical Center attracts a wide range of patients and visitors from all over the United States and the world. In fiscal year 2006 Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's Hospitals admitted 56,361 patients; approximately 20 percent of these patients were from outside the metropolitan area. The spending power of these patients and their families is important to the local economy because they patronize hotels, restaurants, and retail stores in surrounding communities.