The University of Colorado is the nexus of teaching, research, and healthcare that reaches far beyond economic statistics that quantify purchases and payroll in the state of Colorado. In addition, the university’s economic contributions resonate as an economic engine driven by education, clinical, and research expenditures. 

The University of Colorado comprises four campuses—the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder), the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS), the University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver), and the Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz), as well as the system administration offices in Denver. This public university serves “Colorado, the nation, and the world through leadership in high-quality education and professional training, public service, advancing research and knowledge, and state-of-the-art health care.” 

The University of Colorado is an economic driver in the state of Colorado, employing thousands of workers, buying from local vendors, importing investment, educating the local workforce, and exporting research discoveries. Aside from the direct impact, the university facilitates company growth and job creation through research, tech transfer, and spinoff companies. This study provides a snapshot of the university’s economic contribution to the state. In addition, the economic contribution of the system and the four campuses (CU Boulder, UCCS, CU Denver, and CU Anschutz) to their respective communities is detailed for fiscal year (FY) 2022-23. This study was conducted in cooperation with the University of Colorado System and the individual campuses. 

The results of the economic contribution analysis include the University of Colorado and its affiliates at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus for FY2022-23. The results show the following summary for the University of Colorado System:

  • The economic impact increased to $10.8 billion for the state of Colorado.  
  • Impacts stemmed from employee earnings, student worker earnings, operating expenditures, construction, research, and visitors.
  • Other acknowledged impacts stem from innovation, technology transfer, skills and training, and alumni in the workforce.
  • Supported a total of 98,175 jobs, mostly in the Boulder MSA, Denver MSA, and Colorado Springs MSA.
  • Generated labor income of $8 billion.