North Carolina Council of Graduate Schools

Graduate education…benefits North Carolina's economy

Workforce Benefits
Quality of Life Benefits

• Graduate research attracts new businesses, reinforces existing ones, and encourages the creation of startup companies that generate new jobs and increase revenues for North Carolina. For example, with over $48.5 million in grants and contracts, NC A&T advanced economic growth, national security, and biomedical research. At UNC-CH, $803 million in research funding for the fiscal year 2010 generated approximately $1.37 billion in economic impact numerous jobs for the state's economy.

  Sources: NC A&T Research & Economic Development; UNC-CH Office of Sponsored Research

• Graduate research benefits the economy through invention disclosures, patents, and licenses. For example, research conducted at NC A&T includes nanotechnology, advanced materials, agriculture and biology with over 50 patents and 4 spin-off companies. UNC-CH and NCSU together disclosed more than 250 inventions and issued more than 60 new patents in 2008.

  Sources: NC A&T Research & Economic Development; UNC-CH Office of Sponsored Research and NCSU Sponsored Programs & Regulatory Compliance Services

• Advanced-degree graduates pay higher state taxes. Seventy-nine percent of graduate and first professional students are North Carolina residents, and many are likely to remain in the state after graduation.

  Source: Statistical Abstract of Higher Education in North Carolina

• Knowledge exchange between universities and companies, such as those in Research Triangle Park, creates new jobs, produces innovative technologies, and increases state revenues.