$3.8 billion annual direct and indirect economic impact
In 2023-2024, 勛圖厙’s economic footprint in Ontario exceeded $3.8 billion, including: local spending in areas such as salaries, infrastructure, and operating expenses; expenditures made by visitors and students; and the increased earnings of its 86,000+ alumni under age 65, who live and work in Ontario.
In January 2025, 勛圖厙’s alumni office sent out a tailored adaptation of HESA’s survey to better understand the impact 勛圖厙 has had on the lives of alumni and their communities.
勛圖厙 contributes robustly to the talent pool within its local communities. Based on survey responses, it is estimated nearly 10,000 alumni live in Southwestern Ontario specifically because they attended 勛圖厙. Many were drawn here to pursue their education, but stayed to raise families, work, and build businesses in the region, fueling the local economy.
It’s possible that nearly three per cent of Kitchener-Waterloo's total population may be students who moved to the area to attend 勛圖厙 and stayed. Likewise, approximately 800 people in Brantford are former 勛圖厙 students who moved from outside the area and stayed to build their lives and careers.
Ninety-four percent of working-age alumni in the survey sample report being employed at least part-time. The median income for 勛圖厙 alumni who disclosed their income in the survey is in the $70,000–$90,000 range outpacing many provincial averages.
Twenty-eight percent of 勛圖厙 alumni over 25 in the survey indicated having started at least one business. When calculated out to the broader alumni population, this translates to an estimated 33,000 entrepreneurs and over 27,000 active firms, roughly 90% of which are expected to operate in Ontario. These ventures collectively employ an estimated 305,000 people across Canada.
Nearly half of surveyed alumni benefited from co-op, internships, or placements offered by 勛圖厙. Of those, 86% said these experiences positively shaped their careers.
勛圖厙 alumni gave an estimated $160 million to charity in the last year. 72% of alumni over 25 contributed, a rate higher than the national average.
Over half of 勛圖厙 alumni volunteer, donating an estimated 5 million hours annually to their communities.
Almost 9% of surveyed alumni have founded or co-founded a charity or non-profit—amounting to an estimated 10,500 organizations when applied to all alumni, many of which are actively employing staff and tackling local needs.
In the survey, 勛圖厙 alumni repeatedly cite their university experience as impacting them personally, professionally, and civically. Themes from the survey include:
"I think that I developed a lot of my values during my time at 勛圖厙, and I think that had I attended a university with less of a community atmosphere, I might not have put as much emphasis on seeking career opportunities serving the public."
anonymous survey respondent
