UC growth continues as Big 12 newbie admits largest class
It's now official. The University of Cincinnati enrolled 50,921 students for the fall semester. Growth has been continuous with the student body increasing by 19% during the past decade.
Economic Impact
The University of Cincinnati is a cornerstone of economic growth, cultivating progress and creativity across the region. From alumni impact to research and innovation funding, UC drives advancement and opportunity.
With its educational prowess across multiple campuses and its strategic medical education collaboration with the UC Health system, UC is a vital economic driver. UC's impact on the business community in southwest Ohio, northern Kentucky, and eastern Indiana is $10.6 billion in added income, supporting 125,057 jobs. As an institution, UC increases Ohio's economic base by $22.7 billion.
$22.7 billion
in economic impact on Ohio’s economy in FY 2022
Powering Cincinnati's Economy: UC's Impact
The University of Cincinnati isn't just an institution of higher learning—it's a powerful economic force shaping our region. From job creation and innovative research to workforce development and local spending, UC's impact extends far beyond its campus borders. Discover how the Bearcat community is driving growth, fostering innovation, and building a stronger economy for Cincinnati and beyond.
UC is one of the largest employers in the Cincinnati area supporting over 125,000 regional jobs meaning one out of every 12 jobs in the region is supported by the activities of the university and its students.
UC has been called a "research heavyweight" and "one of America's top public research universities." In fact, the university has nearly 200 years of history as a research pioneer. UC scientists invented the world's first electronic organ, antihistamine, heart-lung machine and oral polio vaccine.
The University of Cincinnati is leading urban, public universities into a new era of innovation impact and entrepreneurship through our strategic direction, Next Lives Here.
The education and training UC provides for regional residents has the greatest impact. Since the establishment of the university, students have studied at UC and entered or reentered the regional workforce with greater knowledge and new skills.
Today, thousands of former UC students are employed in the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area. As a result of their education from UC, the students receive higher earnings and increase the productivity of the businesses that employ them.
Alumni impact $6.6 billion (supporting 78,419 jobs)
Nearly half of UC's enrolled students come from outside the Cincinnati region, with most moving to the metro area for their studies. Additionally, many local students who might have left for other schools choose to stay because of UC. Both these groups—newcomers and locals alike—contribute significantly to the local economy through their daily living expenses, supporting a wide range of regional businesses.
UC's annual construction investments serve multiple purposes: maintaining existing facilities, expanding capacity, and meeting growing educational needs. These projects inject significant funds into the regional economy, creating jobs and stimulating short-term economic activity.
Each year, UC draws hundreds of thousands of out-of-town visitors for various events, including graduations, athletic competitions, and other university-sponsored activities. During their stay, these visitors boost the local economy by spending on accommodations, dining, transportation, and other personal expenses.
The University of Cincinnati has a substantial economic impact on healthcare in the region, primarily through its academic medical center and associated healthcare initiatives.
UC is closely affiliated with UC Health, a major healthcare provider in the region. This system includes University of Cincinnati Medical Center, West Chester Hospital, and several specialized institutes.
UC's College of Medicine and UC Health are significant employers, providing jobs for physicians, nurses, researchers, and administrative staff.
This economic impact…reminds us that the University of Cincinnati’s influence extends far beyond our campus. Our students, new graduates, and alumni are of enormous value in today’s dynamic, technology-infused, knowledge-driven economy.
Dr. Neville Pinto
University of Cincinnati President
UC's Volunteerism Impact
UC fosters a robust culture of volunteerism, empowering students and staff to actively engage with the local community. This commitment to service extends beyond campus boundaries, creating valuable partnerships with businesses and organizations throughout the region
This culture of volunteerism not only enriches the educational experience at UC but also serves as a powerful catalyst for regional economic development, creating a symbiotic relationship between the university and its surrounding community.
1.3 million
annual volunteer hours by students and staff
Co-op Spending
The University of Cincinnati is renowned as the birthplace of cooperative education (co-op), a revolutionary approach to higher education that has had a profound impact on both students and the economy.
Ranked No. 1 among public universities and No. 4 overall by U.S. News & World Report, this cooperative education model not only enhances the educational experience at UC but also serves as a significant economic driver, bridging the gap between academic learning and professional practice while contributing to workforce development in Cincinnati and beyond.
$88 million
In annual student earnings through co-op
From growth within the innovation district to joining the Big 12, its $10.6 billion economic impact, and now this milestone enrollment, the University of Cincinnati continues to pave the way for the future of Cincinnati.
Aftab Pureval
Mayor of Cincinnati
Big 12 Economic Impact
UC's entry into the Big 12 Conference brings together exceptional academics and premier athletics, paving an exciting trajectory for the university, city, and region.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors from beyond the region are drawn to UC to partake in commencement, sports events, and other university-sponsored activities. During their stay, these visitors injected funds into the local economy through expenditures on lodging, dining, transportation, and personal expenses.
$29.9 million
Visitor spending
According to Steve Rosfeld, the UC Foundation's vice president for development, donations to the University of Cincinnati's athletic programs have seen a fourfold increase since 2013. Rosfeld informed the Associated Press that the fiscal years 2022 and 2023 collectively brought in $65.7 million, a significant rise from the $37.4 million raised in 2020 and 2021 combined. He also noted that a fundraising initiative aimed at collecting $100 million between January 2020 and June 2024 achieved its target nine months earlier than anticipated.
$65.7 million
Brought in by Big 12 Athletics
UC Economic Impact Report Overview
In April 2023, The University of Cincinnati enlisted Lightcase to quantify the economic contributions of its operations statewide. This report evaluates the impact of Ohio's public universities, including the Inter-University Council of Ohio (IUC), on the state economy and the benefits they provide to students, taxpayers, and society.
- Study Period: Fiscal year 2023
- Data Sources: Study Geography: Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Eastern Indiana
- Operations spending: Amounted to $4.1 billion in added income, supporting 71,726 jobs.
- Construction spending: Generated $598 million in added income, supporting 8,590 jobs.
- Clinical spending: Resulted in $6.9 billion in added income, supporting 78,323 jobs.
- Research spending: Contributed $1.9 billion in added income, supporting 24,460 jobs.
- Start-up and spin-off companies: Added $1.7 billion in income, supporting 15,238 jobs.
- Visitor spending: Added $180.2 million in income, supporting 3,531 jobs.
- Student spending: Added $794.6 million in income, supporting 13,992 jobs, with $549.2 million generated by out-of-state students.
- Volunteerism: Resulted in an impact of $79.3 million in added income, supporting 2,593 jobs.
- Alumni Impact: Amounted to $52.6 billion in added income, supporting 648,329 jobs.
- Student Perspective: For every dollar students invest, they receive $5.10 in higher future earnings, with a 15.6% annual return. FY 2021-22 UC graduates earn $31,200 more annually than Ohio high school diploma holders, totaling $1.3 million over their lifetime.
- Taxpayer Perspective: UC generates more taxes than it receives, with taxpayers gaining $6.50 for every dollar invested, yielding a 67.1% annual return. By FY 2021-22, state and local governments will collect $1.6 billion in added taxes.
- Social Perspective: Every dollar invested yields a $5.80 return, totaling $23.7 billion in social benefits as long as FY 2021-22 students remain in the state workforce.
Explore the comprehensive UC Impact Report for in-depth insights and details on the university's contributions and achievements.