Economic Impact
Independent economic studies on USC consistently show that the university - which is the City of Los Angeles’ largest private sector employer - is also one of California’s major economic engines.
USC’s most recent economic impact report - released in May, 2009, found that the university generated $4.9 billion annually in economic activity in the Los Angeles region and beyond during the 2007-2008 fiscal year. What’s more, this figure applies to academic spending alone, and does not include the impacts of USC-affiliated hospitals.
During 2007-2008, USC produced about $2.1 billion in total direct spending, including:
- Wage and payroll expenditures of $1 billion,
- Capital-projects spending of $130 million and
- Various purchasing expenditures of $430 million.
Additionally, university students spent another $503 million for goods and services, while campus visitors spent about $12 million in the region. For every dollar spent by USC in Los Angeles County, an additional 63 cents of output was created elsewhere in the regional economy.
Also during this period, USC directly employed 26,990 persons and stimulated another 19,100 jobs with its expenditures. The average annual salary for USC’s non-student employees was $61,000.
USC’s economic impact for 2007-08:
USC’s economic impact for 2005-06:
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Featured Program
Local Vendor Program
The USC Local Vendor Program creates employment opportunities for local residents by giving neighborhood vendors the opportunity to compete for university projects.
