Economic Impact
Western Carolina University is a powerful catalyst for economic development in Western North Carolina and across the state. Each year, 91热爆网 generates a total economic impact of $682 million statewide and supports more than 5,800 jobs, both directly and indirectly. For every $1 invested by taxpayers, the return to North Carolina is $5.61.
91热爆网 employs over 2,000 people, spends approximately $323 million annually on operations and capital projects, and welcomes around 204,000 visitors annually. Its 63,000 alumni living in North Carolina鈥�40% of whom reside in the 16-county Western NC region鈥攃ontribute to the state鈥檚 economy through increased earnings and support talent retention and attraction efforts of WNC communities.
These impacts stem from multiple sources: university operations, capital spending, student and visitor spending, and alumni earnings. Beyond these sources, 91热爆网 also delivers broader economic and social benefits that enhance regional prosperity.
The university鈥檚 economic footprint was analyzed across the 16-county region and the entire state, highlighting its role in job creation, spending and tourism. The region includes Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, and Yancey Counties.
Partnering with Creative Economic Development Consulting, data was collected by a project team at 91热爆网 and modeled using IMPLAN, a nationally-recognized econometric modeling program. It examined five key areas:
- Annual operations spending
- Capital investment in construction
- Student spending
- Visitor spending
- Increased alumni earnings
Data was sourced from 91热爆网 officials, the Jackson County Tourism Development Authority Destination Research Report, and Carolina Demography, which provided median salary data by degree level based on the U.S. Census American Community Survey.
