UW-Madison spin-off companies have a $12.4 billion annual economic impact in the state, making up nearly a third of the $38.9 billion total for the university, its affiliated organizations and startups.
That’s according to a new report released yesterday by the university, which shows its total jobs impact is 287,232, including 88,571 jobs at associated startup companies and 95,546 jobs at affiliated organizations. UW-Madison’s total of 103,115 includes 43,457 direct jobs and 59,658 indirect or induced jobs.
“This impact means that one in every 30 jobs in Wisconsin is either directly provided by UW-Madison or supported by its presence,” authors wrote.
Authors also note the university’s economic footprint extends beyond Madison and Dane County, with about $1.3 billion of its total impact and nearly 10,000 jobs located outside the region. Regional impacts range from $34.9 million in northwestern Wisconsin to more than $644.9 million in the southeastern corner of the state.
The report, created by consulting firm Tripp Umbach on behalf of the university, found it yields an economic impact return of $21.66 for every dollar of state funding. That’s based on its receipt of $609.4 million in state funding, contrasted with its $13.2 billion in statewide economic impact.
Meanwhile, the university’s research enterprise has a $3 billion economic impact, including $1.4 billion in direct operational spending and $1.6 billion in indirect or induced impact. UW-Madison research supports 14,129 jobs as well.
Another $2.4 billion in economic impact comes from the university’s health sciences division, which wraps in the schools of Medicine and Public Health, Nursing, Pharmacy and Veterinary Medicine. That includes $968.9 million in direct operational spending and $1.43 billion in indirect or induced impact. Its total job impact is 18,363.
The report also touches on the contributions of the university’s 185,487 alumni living in the state as of fiscal year 2025. Of those in the workforce, alumni generated $12.8 billion in earnings, authors found. That figure is separate from the economic impact total for the university, its affiliates and spin-offs.
Among the affiliate groups highlighted in the report, UW Health had the largest economic impact total with $12.9 billion, followed by WARF with $247.2 million, the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association with $111 million, and the Morgridge Institute for Research with $53.2 million.
