CHICAGO — Chicago universities are an economic and educational force in the city, according to a study released Nov. 13 by America’s Urban Campus, a new consortium of 17 not-for-profit Chicago area universities and colleges, including DePaul University.

The new study finds that the city’s universities and colleges aid in establishing Chicago as a global destination for higher education and post-graduate employment.

The study was conducted by Anderson Economic Group, LLC, and funded by The Chicago Community Trust. The consortium’s institutions were surveyed to determine how they collectively impact the workforce, support local businesses and provide a new way of thinking about educational, economic and cultural development. According to the findings, Chicago is a premiere education hub in the United States and beyond.

“The America’s Urban Campus study definitively proves Chicago is a world-class educational city that attracts students from all over the nation and throughout the world,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “We are proud to be a versatile and successful city for higher education, and our Chicago-area institutions continually provide students with excellent education and post-graduate opportunities.”

Over a nine-year period from 2003 to 2012, the number of degrees and certificates awarded by Chicago-area institutions of higher education increased by 26 percent. Other findings show:

• In 2013, the consortium’s institutions educated more than 216,000 students from every state in the country and more than 100 countries around the world. Chicago ranks third in the nation in total number of students.
  
• Economic activity from the consortium members and their students supported 43,000 jobs, 4 percent of the overall Chicago workforce and $10.8 billion in spending in Chicago in 2013. One out of four bachelor degree-holding Chicago residents graduated from a college or university in the consortium.
  
• The colleges and universities surveyed invested in the future of Chicago education with 1,400 documented partnerships and programs in Chicago Public Schools. The programs involved more than 42,000 CPS students at 578 schools and provided opportunities for students to prepare for post-secondary education.

“The results of the study conducted by America’s Urban Campus illustrate the tremendous impact higher education has on the city of Chicago,” says Patricia O’Donoghue, interim president of DePaul University. “From economic development to internships in the workforce to community service, DePaul always has had a strong connection to Chicago, making the city a global destination for vital, real-world learning experiences.”

Additionally, through partnerships with major organizations like World Business Chicago, Choose Chicago, The Chicago Community Trust, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and The Chicago Loop Alliance, America’s Urban Campus consortium is committed to educating the future leaders of the city, supporting businesses seeking talent and providing social and cultural opportunities for graduates to call Chicago their home.

“These findings demonstrate the critical role America’s Urban Campus institutions play in sustaining Chicago’s position as a global cultural and economic hub,” said Walter E. Massey, president of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. “Our schools make significant contributions to the local economy and community and are producing the leaders who will shape the 21st century, from the arts, commerce, and sciences to government, education, and sustainability.”

More information about America’s Urban Campus, as well as its members’ impact on Chicago education, economy and culture, is online at www.AmericasUrbanCampus.org.

America’s Urban Campus was formed in 2013 to enhance the image of Chicago as a global destination for higher education and build upon the strength of its member institutions as Chicago’s economic and social drivers. The consortium is committed to supporting initiatives, facilitating job opportunities and fostering connections by investing in the future of Chicago through education and research.

In addition to DePaul, the consortium’s other member colleges and universities include Adler School of Professional Psychology, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Chicago State University, City Colleges of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, John Marshall Law School, Loyola University, North Park University, Northwestern University, Robert Morris University, Roosevelt University, Saint Xavier University, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Chicago and University of Illinois at Chicago.

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