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Economic Impact

The University at Buffalo is the leading generator of economic activity for the Buffalo Niagara region, directly and indirectly supporting regional growth in countless ways. Here are just some of the ways that UB sustains the local economy:

Creating jobs

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  Major workforce UB is the region's second largest employer, with 10,066 full-time equivalent employees.| Learn more
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  Top research, real jobs The university generated a record $348.2 million in research expenditures in FY 2008, an increase of $24.8 million over the previous year.| Learn more
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  Guiding small business By transferring technologies developed at UB into the private sector, the incubator program at Baird Research Park run by UB’s Office of Science, Technology Transfer and Economic Outreach (STOR) has helped launch 66 companies. Headed by entrepreneurial graduates and community members, these companies have generated annual revenues in excess of $100 million and created over 1,000 jobs.| Learn more

Building a Prosperous Future

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  Proven returns UB's economic impact on New York State exceeds $1.7 billion per year, which is more than four times the state's annual investment in the university.
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  Path to Prominence UB 2020, a future initiative in progress, focuses on 40 percent growth that will raise UB to the upper ranks of America's research universities. This growth will translate to a better quality of life for Buffalo Niagara, creating new jobs and businesses, revitalizing downtown, and building a prosperous future for the entire area.| Learn more
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  Rapid investment growth The New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, a major UB research center that works in close collaboration with Roswell Park Cancer Institute and the Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute, turned its $11 million initial operational research investment into $55 million in new grants within its first five years.| Learn more
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  Student dollars count UB's undergraduate students spend nearly $9,850 per student in the Buffalo area each year, for a total of more than $218 million.
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  Innovation sparks expansion Across all research areas, UB disclosed 446 new technologies, received 52 new patents, spawned 17 spin-off companies, and generated $2.3 million in fees, royalties, and patent reimbursements over the 5-year period from fiscal year 2002-03 to 2006-07. These achievements reflect UB’s dedication to developing essential technologies that translate into real economic benefits to the people of the region.| Learn more
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  Building our downtown campus UB is growing its presence in downtown Buffalo, where it owns six buildings: the New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, UB Downtown Gateway, Educational Opportunity Center, Research Institute on Addictions, Ira G. Ross Eye Institute, and Jacobs Executive Development Center.| Learn more

Being a Good Neighbor

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  Significant employment

  • Approximately 12 percent of Amherst households include UB employees, an impact of $155.8 million on the town economy.
  • 9,847 Buffalo residents are UB employees, an impact of $236 million on the city economy
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  $86 million in vendor profits

  • UB purchases $22.8 million of goods and services from Amherst vendors, $8.1 million of construction work from Amherst contractors, and $3.1 million in sales from students, faculty, and staff from Amherst vendors.
  • UB purchases $52 million of goods and services from Buffalo vendors
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  A community asset UB helps advance the area economy in many other ways, including workforce skills, management consultation, marketing insights, internships, area data resources, and more. UB graduates make up the majority of licensed professionals in Erie County: 92.6 percent of dentists, 81.9 percent of attorneys, 67.5 percent of pharmacists, and 28 percent of physicians in the area hold degrees from UB's professional schools.