FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                              January 14, 2004

STUDY REVEALS IMPACT OF NORTHWESTERN

ON STATE AND REGIONAL ECONOMIES

            A recently commissioned study has determined that Northwestern Oklahoma State University will generate more than $63 million in economic activity for Oklahoma in 2004, with much of the impact felt in the northwestern region of the state.

            The study was conducted during the fall of 2003 by Northwestern’s Center for Business Development utilizing software produced by Regional Economic Models, Inc. available through the Center for Economic and Business Development at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford.

            During 2004, the projected economic impact of Northwestern will include more than $15.1 million in household expenditures, more than $6 million in business expenditures, nearly $19.3 million in government expenditures and almost $23 million in the import and export of goods and services.

            “Until you closely examine the numbers, I do not think you can appreciate the enormous impact that Northwestern has on the state and local economies,” said Dr. Paul Beran, president of Northwestern. “This study clearly reveals that maintaining a strong and vibrant Northwestern is an investment that returns dividends many times over.”

Gross State and Regional Impact

            The impact of Northwestern on the gross state product is equal to $23.52 million for 2004 and is expected to grow to $27.31 million by 2020. Gross state product is the value added in production by the labor and property located in a state in a given year.

            Northwestern’s gross regional impact is projected to be $19.25 million for 2004. The region for Northwestern is bounded primarily by Interstates 35 and 40, excluding the Oklahoma City metropolitan area.

Employment Impacts

            Northwestern’s workforce includes approximately 230 full-time personnel, nearly 90 part-time employees and 220 student workers. In addition to the direct employment of university personnel, Northwestern will create an additional 376 jobs for Oklahoma through 2020.

            The regional employment impact of Northwestern is 525 jobs for 2004, including 302 government jobs and 223 private, non-farm jobs.

Income Impacts

            In 2004, Northwestern will add $12.34 million to the personal income of Oklahomans. Of that amount, nearly $1.95 million will be paid in taxes resulting in disposable personal income of $10.4 million that can be spent on goods and services.

            Regionally, Northwestern produces $11.32 million in personal income and more than $9.5 million in disposable personal income.

Investment in Northwestern

            More than 84 percent of Northwestern graduates in a bachelor’s degree program remain in Oklahoma and are currently employed. This rate dramatically exceeds the 77 percent average for all of Oklahoma’s colleges and universities.

            The impact of Northwestern’s graduate students is even more impressive with 78.4 percent of master’s degree recipients remaining in Oklahoma and working. The average for Oklahoma’s other higher education institutions is 63 percent.

Tourism Impact

            Events at Northwestern draw more than 75,000 visitors annually to campus and the communities of Alva, Enid and Woodward. Events include meetings and conferences, athletic events, cultural events and other numerous special events.

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            Copies of a brochure “Economic Impact of Northwestern Oklahoma State University on Oklahoma” are available by contacting the Center for Business Development at (580) 327-8506.

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