Study gauges University’s impact

A recent study from Northern Illinois University found the school contributes about $900 million a year to the regional economy.  The DeKalb Daily Chronicle reports  that the study comes from NIU’s Center for Governmental Studies. It estimates that student spending, university operations and construction activity generate the economic impact in 17 counties around DeKalb. Study author Brian Richard says he took into account all NIU campuses.

Among the data Richard found were that 58 percent of NIU’s payroll goes to DeKalb County residents and 44 percent of NIU’s employees live in DeKalb County.  The study also found that NIU students spent about $129 million in 2015, including on off-campus housing, food, transportation and entertainment. Capital projects were responsible for 139 jobs and $34.5 million.