MORGANTOWN — WVU on Monday released the findings of a comprehensive analysis of the combined economic impact of WVU and WVU Health System on the state of West Virginia and beyond.

The bottom line — that WVU is the state’s most consequential economic asset — likely comes as a surprise to very few.

It’s the degree to which the state’s flagship land-grant institution and largest integrated health system power West Virginia’s fiscal engine that stand out.

Looking at fiscal year 2024, consulting firm Tripp Umbach found that, taken together, WVU and WVU Health System generated some $14.3 billion in economic impact statewide, which equates to 17% of the state’s gross domestic product.

The entities contributed approximately $890 million in state and local taxes, which equals a return of $2.61 for every dollar of the $340.9 million in state investment that year.

“West Virginia University and WVU Medicine play an important role in West Virginia’s economy, while also helping educate the workforce of our future,” Gov. Patrick Morrisey said. “Their combined $14 billion economic impact reflects strong educational opportunities, advanced health care, and thousands of good-paying jobs that support communities across the state. Alongside our energy sector, manufacturers, small businesses and entrepreneurs, these institutions are part of the broader foundation that helps keep West Virginia moving forward.”

The numbers cited above, which are added up and broken down in a variety of ways across the 50-plus page report, include direct spending by WVU and WVU Health System (under the WVU Medicine brand) as well as indirect or induced spending by their employees, patients and visitors, plus downstream impacts from vendors, suppliers and household spending.

All told, the Flying WV logo supports more than 84,000 – or one in nine – jobs in West Virginia, either directly or indirectly. WVU Health System is the state’s largest private employer with 26,452 direct employees.

“The combined strength of West Virginia’s flagship, land-grant University and the state’s largest integrated health system form a unified academic, research, and clinical enterprise with benefits far beyond our classrooms and clinics,” WVU President Michael Benson said in the Monday press release. “As I travel across the state and country, it is clear where the ‘Flying WV’ is placed, it brings a shared sense of pride, purpose and reassurance. WVU stands for a quality education, trusted health care, jobs, community and hope for a better future. And we are just getting started.”

Nationally, WVU and WVU Health System support more than 149,000 jobs and contribute $21.6 billion to the U.S. economy, including $1 billion in tax revenue.

“WVU and WVU Hospitals continue to be leaders in our state, delivering world-class care and driving economic growth in West Virginia. This report reinforces what we already knew, and that is that WVU and WVU Hospitals are improving the wellbeing of our communities, while simultaneously serving as engines of innovation, opportunity and job creation,” Senator Shelley Moore Capito said. 

According to Tripp Umbach, the main Morgantown campus generated $3 billion in statewide economic activity in FY 2024, including $509.5 million in direct spending and $2.5 billion in indirect and induced impacts through university-related spending by employees, students and vendors. The Morgantown campus supports 26,880 jobs statewide, including 5,635 direct university jobs.

Over the same 12-month span, WVU Medicine produced $5.4 billion in total economic impact in the Morgantown area, including $334.4 million in state and local tax revenues.

Monongalia County Commission President Tom Bloom said the entities, their employees and students are “a key to the success and the future of our county.”

“WVU’s commitment to our businesses and our community only enhances our programs. The public-private partnership has allowed our community to build, finance and develop projects that would not have been possible,” he said. “I also look to their enormous impact on our community. Whether WVU employees are working on local projects with nonprofit organizations or volunteering as a coach or being involved in organizations like Rotary or Pantry Plus More, they add to the quality of life in Mon County, which is immeasurable and invaluable.”

WVU Athletics generates roughly $1 of every $23 that makes up West Virginia’s $9.1 billion tourism industry.

In FY 2024, WVU Athletics pushed an estimated $390 million in total economic impact through direct spending and indirect and induced efforts from fans, media and vendors across the state.

Whether it’s spent on food, drinks, merchandise or lodging, a significant portion of those sales are occurring in Monongalia County.

“We have more visitors in North Central West Virginia, coming in and out of Monongalia County than any other place in the state,” Visit Mountaineer Country CVB President and CEO Susan Riddle said. “WVU is the largest traffic driver. On a regular basis, we are sending [hotel] room nights up and down the I-79 corridor. And frankly, it’s in Pennsylvania. It’s also into western Maryland.”

All that said, both Bloom and Riddle pointed out there are challenges that come with being the home of the state’s “900-pound gorilla.”

Some of those challenges are tied to infrastructure. Some are tied to perception.

Delegate Joe Statler summed it up during a December legislative session with Morgantown City Council.

“When we bring something up about Monongalia County when we’re in Charleston, we get the same reaction. We are the county that’s got the golden egg. We have everything that we need and could possibly use. They can’t understand – how dare you even come to us to look for anything else,” Statler said.

Bloom expanded on that sentiment in response to Monday’s report.

“Many legislators believe that WVU is the answer to all our problems. They may not comprehend that WVU has its priorities, and the local governments and residents may have other needs. Because of this, some legislators treat us differently, and many local citizens believe that we do not receive the amount of funding we should get to continue our economic growth,” he said. “Every employee of WVU is a tax-paying citizen, and they, and the other residents of Mon County, deserve the benefits that all the residents in the other parts of the state are receiving.”