Study Estimates Southwestern College’s Annual Economic
Impact to be $56 Million
Winfield, Kan.,
Oct. 26, 2022 — Kansas Independent College
Association (KICA) today released the results of a study that estimates the
annual impact of Southwestern College on the statewide economy to be $56
million. Furthermore, the report shared that the nearly 8,000 Southwestern
alumni living and working in Kansas make significant positive economic
contributions to the state. Each year Kansas-based Southwestern alumni generate
$71.2 million in economic output.
“In addition to the incredible work our faculty and staff
do each day on campus to impact and transform the lives of our students, this
study shows that Southwestern College also plays a vital role in our local,
state, and regional economies,” said Liz Frombgen, Southwestern College
President. “Our operations and the economic activity generated by our faculty,
staff, and students reach every corner of our local economy. While it is no
surprise that Southwestern is an economic driver in our region, the numbers
resulting from the study are real proof points demonstrating the value our
college adds to the economy.”
The study was commissioned in partnership by KICA and
Southwestern and was conducted by Parker Philips, a nationally recognized
consulting firm specializing in economic impact analysis. Nichole Parker, a
principal partner at Parker Philips, said, “Economic impact is an objective way
to measure the significance of an organization in the regional economy.
Southwestern College clearly is a major contributor to the regional economy.”
In the analysis, the study considered the direct spending
on operations, pay, benefits, and capital projects by Southwestern College and
the estimated increase in demand for goods and services in industry sectors
that supply or support Southwestern. The study also measured the effect of
student and college-related visitor spending in 2021 which totaled to $9.9
million.
A key result of this economic activity is that
Southwestern supports and sustains 480 jobs including direct employment by
Southwestern as well as indirect and induced jobs created by supply and
equipment vendors, contractors, and laborers for the construction and
renovation of facilities, and jobs created in the community at hotels,
restaurants, and retail stores in support of Southwestern’s faculty, staff,
students, and visitors.
The analysis also calculated tax revenues generated by
this level of economic activity, including sales, property, personal income,
and corporate income taxes. The study concluded that the college generates
about $3.3 million in total tax revenue. Of the $3.3 million, over $1.4 million
was generated in local taxes only.
Additionally, the study shared that in 2021, the combined
impact of charitable giving and volunteerism by faculty, staff, and students
totaled to nearly $400,000 in community contributions.
“As the study shows, through the generation of revenue,
operational spending, and community service, Southwestern College plays a
significant role in the economic success and vitality of our larger community,”
added Frombgen. “It is also clear that for 137 years Southwestern has
contributed to the cultural identity of Winfield and south central Kansas in
meaningful ways which we can’t quantify. As we consider the history and future
of Southwestern we must acknowledge the many ways in which the college makes
our region stronger.”
Statewide, all private, nonprofit colleges and
universities, including all 20 KICA members, plus the spending of its faculty,
staff, and students, had a total statewide economic impact of $1.1 billion.
This activity generated an estimated 8,269 jobs in Kansas.
The economic impact report for Southwestern College is
available at www.sckans.edu.
