Ersys Logo Ersys Name
Allegan County – Colleges/Universities 2023-2024

Picture of valves

Universities play a crucial role in shaping local economies by driving employment, fostering business growth, attracting investment, and enhancing the overall quality of life in their host communities. Their economic impact extends beyond direct spending to include long-term benefits such as workforce development, innovation, and cultural enrichment. Below, we explore the key ways in which a university influences a local economy.

  1. Direct Employment and Spending A university is often one of the largest employers in a local area, providing jobs for faculty, administrative staff, maintenance workers, and other professionals. These employees spend their salaries on housing, groceries, transportation, and entertainment, injecting money into the local economy. Additionally, universities spend significant amounts on construction, utilities, and local services, further stimulating business activity.

    Students also contribute to local spending. Many bring outside money into the community through tuition payments, federal aid, and personal expenditures on rent, food, and retail. A large student population can sustain businesses such as bookstores, coffee shops, restaurants, and housing providers.

  2. Business Development and Entrepreneurship Universities often serve as hubs for innovation and entrepreneurship. Research institutions, business incubators, and technology transfer offices help commercialize academic research, leading to startup formation and industry partnerships. For example, Stanford University's role in Silicon Valley's growth demonstrates how academic institutions can spur regional economic development.

    Local businesses benefit from university partnerships, including procurement contracts for supplies, catering, and maintenance services. Furthermore, universities attract conferences, sporting events, and cultural activities that generate tourism revenue for hotels, restaurants, and transportation services.

  3. Human Capital and Workforce Development A well-educated workforce is essential for economic competitiveness. Universities produce graduates with specialized skills that attract high-paying industries, such as technology, healthcare, and finance. Many graduates remain in the area, filling critical roles in local businesses and government.

    Universities also offer continuing education programs, professional certifications, and workforce training initiatives that help upskill local employees, making the regional labor market more adaptable to industry changes.

  4. Real Estate and Infrastructure Growth The presence of a university can drive demand for housing, both from students and faculty. This often leads to the development of new apartments, condominiums, and mixed-use commercial spaces. Over time, universities contribute to urban revitalization by investing in campus expansions, public transit improvements, and community amenities like libraries and parks.

    However, rapid growth can also lead to challenges, such as rising housing costs and gentrification, which may displace long-term residents. Local governments must balance economic expansion with policies that ensure affordable housing and equitable development.

  5. Cultural and Social Contributions Beyond economics, universities enrich local culture through arts programs, public lectures, and athletic events. These activities improve residents' quality of life, making the area more attractive to businesses and skilled workers. A vibrant university town often sees increased property values and a more diverse, engaged community.


Conclusion

The economic impact of a university on a local economy is multifaceted, encompassing job creation, business growth, talent development, and infrastructure investment. While challenges such as affordability and displacement must be managed, the long-term benefits-including innovation, increased tax revenues, and a more dynamic workforce-make universities vital engines of regional prosperity. By fostering collaboration between academia, government, and industry, communities can maximize these advantages while ensuring inclusive growth.
 
Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
Calvin Theological Seminary  
Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine  
Western Theological Seminary  
Trinity International University-Illinois  
Grace Christian University  
Kalamazoo College  
Aquinas College  
Cornerstone University  
Lake Forest College  
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science  
Carthage College  
Calvin University  
Hope College  
University of Wisconsin-Parkside  
Gateway Technical College  
Grand Rapids Community College  
College of Lake County  
Western Michigan University  
Grand Valley State University  
Percent admitted - total
Admissions yield - total

Full-time enrollment
Part-time enrollment

Total  enrollment
% White
% Black
% Asian
% Hispanic
% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
% American Indian or Alaska Native
% two or more races
% Race/ethnicity unknown
% U.S. Nonresident

Undergraduate enrollment
% under 18
% 18-24
% 25-64
% over 65

Graduate enrollment

Student-to-faculty ratio

Tuition and fees, 2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24

Total price for
In-district students living on campus  2023-24
In-state students living on campus 2023-24
Out-of-state students living on campus 2023-24

In-district students living off campus (no family)  2023-24
In-state students living off campus (no family)  2023-24
Out-of-state students living off campus (no family)  2023-24

In-district students living off campus (w/ family)  2023-24
In-state students living off campus (w/ family)  2023-24
Out-of-state students living off campus (w/ family)  2023-24

Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practice
Doctor's degree - other

Instructional FTE
Research FTE
Public Service FTE
Librarians, Curators, and Archivists FTE
Student/Academic Affairs and Other Education Services FTE
Management FTE
Business and Financial Operations FTE
Computer, Engineering, and Science FTE
Community Service, Legal, Arts, and Media FTE
Healthcare FTE
Service FTE
Sales and Related FTE
Office and Administrative Support FTE
Natural Resources, Construction, and Maintenance FTE
Production, Transportation, and Material Moving FTE
Total FTE staff
95
21

18,849
3,420

22,269
76
6
3
7
0
0
4
1
3

19,243
3
90
7
0

3,026

15

13,244
13,560
13,952
14,628


29,027
29,027
35,219

26,714
26,714
32,906

17,885
17,885
24,077

0
4,153
979
0
103
0

1,349
0
0
41
27
154
238
146
307
17
169
8
307
59
12
2,834
85
15

12,381
4,312

16,693
67
8
3
8
0
0
4
2
8

13,026
4
87
9
0

3,667

16

13,017
13,434
14,623
15,298


30,770
30,770
34,570

30,770
30,770
34,570

20,185
20,185
23,985

0
3,339
913
100
81
0

892
30
0
29
219
88
210
163
136
26
289
0
220
92
36
2,430
NA
NA

4,040
8,250

12,290
31
7
6
48
0
0
3
4
2

12,290
3
61
35
1

0

16

4,116
4,116
4,200
4,494


NA
NA
NA

25,272
31,309
34,814

11,522
17,559
21,064

1,383
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

415
0
0
10
52
120
56
61
117
0
89
5
64
24
0
1,013
NA
NA

3,545
8,597

12,142
59
10
4
19
0
1
4
3
0

12,142
12
57
31
0

0

20

3,969
3,969
3,999
4,059


NA
NA
NA

18,972
22,962
26,772

10,293
14,283
18,093

1,350
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

322
0
0
5
13
72
27
52
55
1
89
0
111
15
5
767
NA
NA

1,230
8,904

10,134
61
9
1
24
0
0
3
1
0

10,134
49
28
22
0

0

14

4,621
4,688
4,766
4,853


NA
NA
NA

20,780
20,780
22,973

11,166
11,166
13,359

692
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

271
0
0
7
32
65
36
41
53
6
36
0
83
6
5
641
73
20

2,625
1,383

4,008
60
8
4
19
0
0
5
1
3

3,263
8
74
17
0

745

18

7,444
7,444
7,466
7,855


21,895
21,895
30,537

21,895
21,895
30,537

13,201
13,201
21,843

3
659
289
0
0
0

170
0
0
10
6
47
23
18
66
3
8
0
43
13
10
417
76
21

3,204
164

3,368
78
3
3
8
0
0
4
2
2

3,368
2
95
2
0

0

11

36,650
36,650
38,370
40,420


55,790
55,790
55,790

47,630
47,630
47,630

44,180
44,180
44,180

0
700
0
0
0
0

295
16
0
16
40
47
46
38
105
10
69
1
86
17
10
796
71
22

2,897
467

3,364
69
5
4
5
0
0
3
1
12

3,053
3
90
7
0

311

14

37,806
38,240
38,620
38,670


54,920
54,920
54,920

52,570
52,570
52,570

42,970
42,970
42,970

11
704
116
0
0
0

264
0
0
8
19
39
60
48
143
4
17
0
84
0
0
686
84
11

2,688
83

2,771
66
7
2
16
0
0
4
2
2

2,642
1
97
2
0

129

13

31,500
33,000
34,500
36,500


53,050
53,050
53,050

53,050
53,050
53,050

40,100
40,100
40,100

0
558
59
0
0
0

189
0
0
4
4
62
30
18
70
7
31
0
38
8
0
461
NA
NA

1,892
57

1,949
42
8
29
10
0
0
4
5
2

0
NA
NA
NA
NA

1,949

NA

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
0
165
14
399
0

229
51
0
7
20
102
24
45
11
153
17
0
115
6
2
782
59
15

1,780
38

1,818
47
3
6
18
0
0
3
4
18

1,796
0
97
3
0

22

12

49,822
51,002
52,902
54,202


71,350
71,350
71,350

71,350
71,350
71,350

68,032
68,032
68,032

0
360
19
0
0
0

138
1
0
7
29
36
13
15
48
8
11
0
37
11
2
356
73
21

1,146
589

1,735
70
9
2
6
0
0
2
5
5

1,444
4
82
14
0

291

15

26,250
27,040
27,880
29,100


44,470
44,470
44,470

41,170
41,170
41,170

32,270
32,270
32,270

26
283
132
7
0
0

86
0
0
4
18
36
13
13
44
2
18
0
30
2
0
266
71
18

1,165
130

1,295
75
2
2
8
0
0
5
3
4

1,209
0
95
5
0

86

11

35,086
36,084
37,280
38,520


53,710
53,710
53,710

54,544
54,544
54,544

43,612
43,612
43,612

1
245
31
0
0
0

96
0
0
6
23
8
18
6
68
0
28
0
6
0
0
259
76
13

1,190
6

1,196
60
5
5
17
0
0
5
2
5

1,196
2
98
0
0

0

10

52,434
54,522
56,562
58,764


74,208
74,208
74,208

74,208
74,208
74,208

62,664
62,664
62,664

0
298
0
0
0
0

123
0
0
6
4
48
31
16
45
6
31
0
46
16
3
375
99
31

474
480

954
57
20
2
9
0
1
5
5
0

891
20
35
43
2

63

15

14,160
14,400
14,520
14,992


27,316
27,316
27,316

27,148
27,148
27,148

18,562
18,562
18,562

47
122
23
0
0
0

53
0
0
2
2
10
14
4
18
0
8
0
25
0
0
136
93
9

312
540

852
40
8
8
7
0
0
3
6
27

140
1
46
52
1

712

9

33,298
33,298
33,898
12,320


22,497
22,497
22,497

28,765
28,765
28,765

16,515
16,515
16,515

0
101
160
31
0
0

65
3
0
4
16
25
2
8
17
0
13
0
12
0
0
165
NA
NA

64
360

424
40
2
1
23
0
0
1
28
5

0
NA
NA
NA
NA

424

NA

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
0
36
0
11
0

19
0
0
2
12
7
1
0
1
0
0
3
5
2
0
52
NA
NA

352
0

352
54
6
16
10
0
0
5
8
0

0
NA
NA
NA
NA

352

NA

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
0
3
0
77
0

130
19
0
5
16
49
28
34
15
297
29
0
107
4
0
733
NA
NA

157
150

307
44
7
17
14
0
0
0
4
14

0
NA
NA
NA
NA

307

NA

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
0
38
1
0
0

13
0
0
0
8
5
4
2
0
0
0
0
7
0
0
39
NA
NA

0
275

275
48
12
22
11
1
0
3
1
3

0
NA
NA
NA
NA

275

NA

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
0
88
0
0
0

43
0
0
0
0
8
24
2
0
0
0
6
2
1
0
86

Page 1 of 2
Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Racine
University of Wisconsin-Parkside Flex  
Kuyper College  
University of Saint Mary of the Lake  
Ross College-Grand Rapids North  
Percent admitted - total
Admissions yield - total

Full-time enrollment
Part-time enrollment

Total  enrollment
% White
% Black
% Asian
% Hispanic
% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
% American Indian or Alaska Native
% two or more races
% Race/ethnicity unknown
% U.S. Nonresident

Undergraduate enrollment
% under 18
% 18-24
% 25-64
% over 65

Graduate enrollment

Student-to-faculty ratio

Tuition and fees, 2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24

Total price for
In-district students living on campus  2023-24
In-state students living on campus 2023-24
Out-of-state students living on campus 2023-24

In-district students living off campus (no family)  2023-24
In-state students living off campus (no family)  2023-24
Out-of-state students living off campus (no family)  2023-24

In-district students living off campus (w/ family)  2023-24
In-state students living off campus (w/ family)  2023-24
Out-of-state students living off campus (w/ family)  2023-24

Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
Doctor's degree - professional practice
Doctor's degree - other

Instructional FTE
Research FTE
Public Service FTE
Librarians, Curators, and Archivists FTE
Student/Academic Affairs and Other Education Services FTE
Management FTE
Business and Financial Operations FTE
Computer, Engineering, and Science FTE
Community Service, Legal, Arts, and Media FTE
Healthcare FTE
Service FTE
Sales and Related FTE
Office and Administrative Support FTE
Natural Resources, Construction, and Maintenance FTE
Production, Transportation, and Material Moving FTE
Total FTE staff
NA
NA

267
0

267
13
26
1
6
0
1
5
48
1

267
0
43
57
0

0

27

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA

10
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
14
NA
NA

126
77

203
66
2
9
10
0
0
5
4
4

0
NA
NA
NA
NA

203

NA

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
0
40
0
0
4

12
0
0
4
0
13
11
4
16
0
33
0
22
7
0
122
34
56

102
51

153
54
24
2
11
0
0
3
4
2

153
21
68
11
0

0

18

23,970
24,630
25,370
26,390


39,480
39,480
39,480

38,570
38,570
38,570

30,290
30,290
30,290

1
18
3
0
0
0

11
0
0
1
0
16
0
1
7
0
2
0
6
0
0
44
NA
NA

13
130

143
74
7
1
9
0
1
3
4
0

143
0
24
76
0

0

18

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
17
0
0
0
0

2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
NA
NA

30
17

47
81
6
4
9
0
0
0
0
0

3
0
0
100
0

44

8

NA
NA
NA
NA


NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

NA
NA
NA

0
0
17
0
0
0

4
0
0
0
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
4
0
0
12

Page 2 of 2


Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus