The Economic Impact of Higher Education in America
Section 1 Content
Why This Work Matters Colleges and universities have long been central to American history, playing a vital role in both the education of men and women and in building our economy. Because education is the foundation for growth, these institutions have played a key role in driving upward social and economic mobility for generations of Americans.
The value of higher education is evident in the benefits it provides—from increased earnings for graduates to stronger civic engagement. Highlighting its impact showcases the many ways that higher education adds value not only for students but also for local, state, regional, and national economies.
Economic Indicators Map
The interactive map below provides a comprehensive view of the economic activity of colleges and universities. Select a state to learn about data points such as the total revenue across institutions within the state, total salary expenditures on employees at institutions in the state, and the median annual earnings by educational attainment. This same type of information is displayed at the congressional district level as well. Local, regional, and national data points will be added in the future.
75 10 102 83 312 137 103 77 33 136 MA 89 143 NJ 162 25 97 302 23 387 10 52 CT 134 62 226 43 77 613 15 DE 21 DC 21 75 84 73 MD 156 50 28 32 NH 400 259 71 140 60 139 95 84 39 89 32 37 16 VT 107 21 RI = number of institutions per state
More to Come
The economic indicators map represents the first phase of demonstrating the full value that higher education brings to the nation. While the release highlights key data, the interactive tool will soon expand to showcase economic activity of colleges and universities at the local, regional, and national levels. Over time, this page will also feature additional insights on broader societal and health benefits, helping tell a more complete story of how higher education builds America. Stay tuned as we continue building this resource.
To share feedback and comments regarding the economic indicators map, please do so
by submitting this form to our ACE Government Relations team.
About the Data
This analysis draws on multiple federal data sources, providing a comprehensive view of the economic activity of colleges and universities. Institution-level information comes from the 2022–2023 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and the 2022–2023 College Scorecard. To provide state-level context, we also incorporated data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey (ACS), which include estimates of median earnings and unemployment rates by educational attainment.