Riverside
In December, UC Riverside released the results of a study it commissioned showing the university contributed $2.71 billion in economic activity for the United States in 2016.
The economic impact included a $1.92 billion impact on California, a $1.35 billion impact on the Inland Empire, and a $1.26 billion impact on Riverside County.
The data is the result of direct spending by the university, including the impact of wages paid to employees and retirees, as well as goods and services procured by the campus during 2015-16. It also included spending by students and visitors in the regional economy.
According to HR&A Advisors who completed the study, UCR is the second largest employer in Riverside and spending associated with the campus generates more than 20,700 full-time jobs statewide and 25,000 nationwide. The report identified UC Riverside as both a “critical economic asset” and “an important driver of growth.”
During 2016, UCR enrolled a record number of students. Of the 22,921 enrolled, more than 3,100 were graduate students. In addition, 63 percent of undergraduates are first-generation college students—a clear demonstration of the school’s strong commitment to diversity. Also in 2016, at least 54 percent of UCR students were classified as underrepresented minorities, compared to an average 37 percent across the UC system.
In addition, UCR continues to make progress in its ability to secure research funding. The school has seen a 43 percent increase in federal research funds since 2012 and considered 2016 a stellar year for such funding. That year, the school received a total of $101 million for research. View the full report at https://research.ucr.edu/webdocs/VCR/HRA%20 UCR%20Economic%20Impact%20Analysis.pdf.