A Study of the Economic Impact and
Benefits of UC San DiegoFiscal Year 2006-07

Executive Summary

An analysis of the economic impacts of UC San Diego Report on the City and County of San Diego, and the state of California, in 2006–07, was prepared by CBRE Consulting, Inc. This study used the IMPLAN model developed by the US Department of Agriculture and it quantifies impacts in terms of spending, employment, and personal income.

Through its large student enrollment and its status as the third largest employer in the county, UC San Diego serves as a major, stable stimulus to the economy. The economy particularly benefits from the ability of UC San Diego faculty and researchers to attract contract and grant funding for research from outside the region. In addition, UC San Diego’s research enterprise creates new innovations which in turn are introduced as products in the marketplace, often by start-up companies spawned by UC San Diego faculty and alumni.

The following bullet points highlight major findings from the body of this report based on UC San Diego FY 2006-07:

Regional Framework

• Approximately 3.098 million people currently reside in San Diego County, and by 2020 the population is projected to grow by 822,020 people.
• There are approximately 1.510 million jobs in San Diego County with an additional 356,400 jobs projected to be added by 2020, for an annual growth rate of 1.2 percent.
• San Diego’s unemployment rate of 5.0 percent is lower than California’s unemployment rate of 5.9 percent.
• UC San Diego is the third largest employer in San Diego County.
• The median household income in San Diego in 2007 was $69,530 (in constant 2007 dollars) and is expected to grow by approximately 4.1 percent per year through 2010.
• The median home price in San Diego is $399,000, and home prices are projected to decline for the next two years before stabilizing in 2010.
• Defense, technology, manufacturing and tourism sectors are the most prominent industries in the region.

UC San Diego Contributions to the Regional Workforce

• In 2007, U.S. News and World Report ranked UC San Diego 8th in the United States among public universities (today the university is ranked 7th).
• During FY 2006-07, UC San Diego conferred 6,500 degrees, including many in math, computer science, biology and engineering.
• Nearly one-third of UC San Diego alumni currently reside in San Diego County.
• UC San Diego Extension offers 2,000 continuing education courses to working professionals and other adult residents in the region.
• UC San Diego faculty and alumni have started hundreds of successful companies in San Diego, California, and around the world.

UC San Diego Contributions to the Medical and Health Sectors

• Approximately 650 School of Medicine alumni live in San Diego County, many serving patients throughout the wide spectrum of medical specialties.
• Several major organizations on campus specialize in medical research including the Rebecca and John Moores Cancer Center.
• The UC San Diego Medical Center serves 21,000 inpatients and 476,000 outpatients annually.
• Enrollment in the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences has stabilized at 60 students per class.

University Payroll and Purchasing

• UC San Diego is a major employer as well as a significant purchaser of goods and services in San Diego County.
• UC San Diego’s revenues totaled approximately $2.306 billion in FY 2006-07.
• An estimated $1.710 billion in salaries and wages, goods and services, and construction were spent by UC San Diego in the County of San Diego.
• In FY 2006-07 UC San Diego paid more than $1.137 billion in salaries and wages.
• UC San Diego purchased $1.015 billion worth of goods and services and spent $340.7 million on capital expenditures in FY 2006-07.
• UC San Diego spent $625.3 million on goods, services, and construction in San Diego County.
• Annually, $800.0 million is spent by UC San Diego Medical Center.

Direct, Indirect and Induced Economic Impacts

• The impact of spending by UC San Diego in the City of San Diego was $2.275 billion in total spending, 20,790 jobs, and $1.228 billion in personal income.
• The impact of spending by UC San Diego in the County of San Diego was $917.3 million in total spending, 8,360 jobs, and $482.9 million in personal income.
• The impact of spending by UC San Diego elsewhere in the State of California was $829.9 million in total spending, 5,090 jobs, and $613.2 million in personal income.
• The total impact of spending by UC San Diego in the State was $4.022 billion in total spending, 34,230 full-time equivalent jobs, and $2.324 billion in personal income.

University Student, Visitor and Retiree Impacts

• In FY 2006-07 approximately 26,880 undergraduate and graduate students spent $242.6 million throughout San Diego County.
• 13,800 University Extension students and 2,200 international students spent a combined total of $8.486 million in San Diego County.
• The 1.431 million visitors to UC San Diego spent $6.266 million in San Diego County in FY 2006-07.
• The 3,560 retired employees living in San Diego County spent $111.1 million in the County.

Research at UC San Diego

• A wide variety of research is conducted at UC San Diego which in turn is a significant generator of jobs and income.
• UC San Diego “imports” grants and contracts awards from outside San Diego County, which in turn provide considerable economic value to the region.
• In FY 2006-07 UC San Diego spent approximately $714.3 million on research.
• During FY 2006-07, 85 license agreements were formulated, 373 new inventions were disclosed, and 64 patents were added to the University’s patent portfolio. UC San Diego currently holds over 500 active patents, ranking third among all UC campuses.
• At least 193 companies have been founded by UC San Diego faculty or alumni.
• At least $10.248 billion in annual sales were generated by UC San Diego start up companies in California alone.

UC San Diego Community Outreach, Service and Partnerships

• A host of community outreach and academic enrichment programs attest to the efforts by UC San Diego to support economically disadvantaged and at risk students, with The Pruess School serving as just one example.
• UC San Diego has over 70 volunteer student service organizations.
• UCSD-TV, CONNECT and ATHENA are some examples of the many partnerships between UC San Diego and the community.

Cultural and Recreational Programs

• The Stuart Collection, University Art Gallery, Music, Theatre and Dance performances, Art Power!, and La Jolla Playhouse are just five examples of the many cultural and art offerings at UC San Diego.
• Approximately 400,000 people visit the Birch Aquarium annually.
• 19 different athletic teams compete in over 180 events.
• 228 fitness classes are offered by Campus Recreation and are open to the public.

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