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Economic Impact

The University at Buffalo is a 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 sixth largest employer, with 6,488 full-time and 14,076 total employees.| Learn more
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  Top research, real jobs Every $1 million spent on research and development at UB generates 29 jobs in Western New York according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. The university generated $323.4 million in reasearch in 2007, an increase of $25.5 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 64 companies. Headed by entrepreneurial graduates and community members, these companies have generated annual revenues in excess of $61 million and created over 455 jobs.| Learn more

Building a Prosperous Future

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  Proven returns UB's economic impact on New York State exceeds $1.5 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 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, has turned its $11 million initial operational research investment into $55 million in new grants within the past five years.| Learn more
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  Student dollars count UB's undergraduate students spend nearly $8,000 per student in the Buffalo area each year, for a total of more than $145 million.
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  Innovation sparks expansion UB faculty, staff, and students have disclosed 449 inventions in the last five years, while UB maintains a current portfolio of 174 patents and 74 licensing agreements. 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’s presence in downtown Buffalo is growing substantially, at the opposite end of our South Campus urban anchor. The cornerstone downtown is our New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences which opened in 2006. Complementing this in the surrounding area is the Anderson Art Gallery, Jacobs Executive Development Center, the Research Institute on Addictions, the Educational Opportunity Center, the Jefferson Family Medicine Center, and, soon to open, the Ross Eye Institute.| 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.