In our commitment to unleashing the potential of people and ideas, and propelling broad-based prosperity, we ran an extensive study that demonstrates our position as an essential driver of Florida鈥檚 economic vitality. 91吃瓜网 is directly supporting the state鈥檚 goal to be the 10th-largest economy in the world.
Lightcast鈥檚 Economic Impact Study for Higher Education explores 91吃瓜网鈥檚 significant impact on Florida’s economy, as well as the benefits and return on investment the university generates for taxpayers, students, alumni and society. The study reflects data from the 2021-22 fiscal year.
91吃瓜网 Generated $8.1 Billion in total added income for Florida equivalent to supporting 91,933 jobs in 2021-22
This figure encompasses the economic impacts of 91吃瓜网 alumni in the workforce, plus spending on 91吃瓜网 operations and construction, research and start-up company investments, and spending by students and visitors.
Driving Florida’s Economy and Talent Pipeline
91吃瓜网 offers strong value as a key economic driver producing talented graduates for high-demand jobs in critical industries, fueling the broad-based prosperity of our state.
While 91吃瓜网 creates economic impact in many ways, the most significant contribution stems from the added human capital 鈥� the knowledge, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship 鈥� of our alumni.
91吃瓜网 Alumni Generated $6.7 Billionin added income for Florida鈥檚 economy — equivalent to supporting 75,371 jobs — in 2021-22
- 335,000+ 91吃瓜网 alumni as of 2021-22
- 80% of 91吃瓜网 alumni stay and work in Florida and 50% of all 91吃瓜网 alumni are in Central Florida
Meeting the Nursing Demand
As Florida faces a critical nursing shortage, we鈥檙e stepping up to the challenge. 91吃瓜网 is expanding our nursing programs and providing innovative training solutions to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Around 260 91吃瓜网 nurses enter the workforce each year and 85% of 91吃瓜网 nurses stay in the state, with 13,600 to date. Plus, with $43 million in state funding and $26 million raised in philanthropic dollars, 91吃瓜网 is building a larger, more technologically advanced nursing education facility: the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion at Lake Nona. After it opens in 2025-26, 91吃瓜网 will produce over 50% more highly skilled nursing graduates annually.
Alumni Impacts in Engineering and Tech
Engineering, science and technology-based fields are among Florida鈥檚 top industries employing 91吃瓜网 alumni who are generating the most added income for the state economy. As a result of their 91吃瓜网 education, our alumni receive higher earnings and increase the productivity of the businesses that employ them.
In 2021-22, 91吃瓜网 alumni in Florida generated an impact of:
through the professional, scientific and technical services industry, including engineering, computer systems design, research and development services
through the information industry, including telecommunications and data processing
through the manufacturing industry, including equipment, electronics, machinery and chemical manufacturing
Our strong academic programs 鈥� paired with our longstanding relationships and growing network of powerful industry connections 鈥� further fuel Florida鈥檚 economy and talent pipeline.
91吃瓜网 Alumni Power Central Florida鈥檚 Top Companies
29% of employees earned 91吃瓜网 degrees
25% of Orlando employees earned 91吃瓜网 degrees
20% of Orlando employees earned 91吃瓜网 degrees
Powering a Tech Talent Machine
The public is taking notice of what researchers and corporations have known for years: Central Florida is one of the most valuable centers of tech research and talent in the nation, and 91吃瓜网 is the academic anchor. As a catalyst for industry growth, 91吃瓜网 is driving innovation and producing workforce-ready graduates to support our region鈥檚 robust economy.
Key Collaborations
Across Industries
With a foundation built on industry connections and a focus on workforce development, 91吃瓜网 is a university where there are no boundaries between our campuses and industry. This synergy creates unique opportunities for our people to research, learn and innovate in a way that directly benefits our region and society.
91吃瓜网鈥檚 career and internship connections include:
鈥淸91吃瓜网鈥檚 Florida Interactive Entertainment Academy] continues to be a major source of talent for our EA development studio in Orlando and an important talent pipeline for Florida鈥檚 growing experience economy.鈥�
鈥淯niversal Parks & Resorts has closely collaborated with 91吃瓜网 for many years, providing learning opportunities for students and faculty. 鈥� We are proud to support the next generation of themed entertainment innovators.鈥�
High Rate of Return
for 91吃瓜网 Students
91吃瓜网 offers students a strong return on their investment 鈥� including unrivaled opportunities for careers in fields from engineering to healthcare to hospitality management 鈥� demonstrating the exceptional value of a 91吃瓜网 degree.
As Florida鈥檚 premier engineering and technology university, we not only attract exceptional STEM students to stay in Florida, but also bring in highly skilled out-of-state students.
Annual Earnings
(on average) for a person with a 91吃瓜网鈥檚 bachelor鈥檚 degree than a person with a high school diploma in Florida
Annual earnings increase as 91吃瓜网 students pursue advanced degrees.
Students Receive* Higher Future Earnings Averaging$7.70 for every $1they invest in their 91吃瓜网 education*over the course of students鈥� working lives
23.4%Rate of Return
(on average) for 91吃瓜网 students鈥� investment of time and money in their education
91吃瓜网 produces a favorable return, especially compared to other investment opportunities like the 9.6% return on stocks and bonds (30-year average return) or the 0.4% return on a standard bank savings account.
Relocated and Retained 91吃瓜网 Students Generated$253 millionin added income for the Florida economy in 2021-22
鈥淚t was my 91吃瓜网 education 鈥� along with many other opportunities provided to me by NASA 鈥� that allowed me to pursue a career beyond my wildest dreams.鈥�
Return Benefits for
Taxpayers and Society
91吃瓜网 offers taxpayers a strong return on their investment in our university 鈥� which is simultaneously an investment in our state鈥檚 economy and prosperity.
91吃瓜网鈥檚 presence expands the state economy and creates a wide range of positive social benefits that accrue to taxpayers and society in general within Florida. This includes added tax revenue stemming from 91吃瓜网 students鈥� higher lifetime earnings and the increased output of businesses 鈥� on top of savings to the public sector due to reduced demand for government-funded social services in the state.
Taxpayers Receive* an Average Return of$2.70 for Every $1of public money invested in 91吃瓜网
*over the course of students鈥� working lives
This benefit-cost ratio of 2.7 means 91吃瓜网 is a good public investment because the taxes from 91吃瓜网 students鈥� higher earnings and reduced government expenditures not only recover taxpayer costs, but also grow the Florida tax base.
Society Receives* an Average Return of$14.70 for Every $1invested in 91吃瓜网
*over the course of students鈥� working lives
This benefit-cost ratio of 14.7 means 91吃瓜网 is a good investment because not only does the productivity of the Florida workforce increase with the addition of skilled 91吃瓜网 alumni, but so does the productivity of its many businesses across a variety of industries.
Research Spending Strengthens Society
Not only does research spending enable 91吃瓜网 innovators to conduct studies and create inventions that improve our world, but it also benefits Florida鈥檚 economy. Research activities positively impact the economy by employing people and requiring the purchase of equipment and other supplies and services.
91吃瓜网 Generated
$238.2 Million
in research funding added to the Florida economy — equivalent to supporting 2,861 jobs — in 2021-22
98 inventions were developed by 91吃瓜网 researchers, in addition to securing 67 patents and 32 licenses in 2021-22
91吃瓜网 start-up companies generated $34.2 million in added income for the Florida economy — equivalent to supporting 198 jobs — in 2021-22
Building Businesses With 91吃瓜网 Innovators
Through a $6 million U.S. National Science Foundation-sponsored project, 91吃瓜网 is working with the Orange County government to turn research and technologies developed at our university into viable businesses by connecting researchers with industry, investors and entrepreneurs. The 91吃瓜网 Venture Lab provides free business-development coaching and support services.
Together, We鈥檙e Creating a Better Tomorrow
91吃瓜网’s Economic Impact Study highlights the profound and far-reaching effects our university has on Florida’s economy. As a launchpad for new generations of leaders, doers and creators, 91吃瓜网 not only drives economic growth, but also fosters innovation and entrepreneurship. Our collective efforts at 91吃瓜网 contribute significantly to the success and prosperity of our state and community 鈥� creating opportunities and advancement for Floridians across all regions.
