Michigan’s Research Universities for Michigan, an alliance of Michigan State University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, are benefitting every region in the state by providing businesses and industries with the graduates they need, conducting cutting-edge research and contributing to communities statewide, according to a new economic impact report prepared by Anderson Economic Group.

The 2023 RU4M Economic Impact Report shows that for every dollar that the state has invested in RU4M institutions, the RU4M has put back $24 into the state economy through not only research but also its education and innovation activities, jobs created and in-state spending of its 152,000 students and 755,000 resident alumni.

Last year, the RU4M’s total net economic impact was $23.9 billion, reaching every single Michigan county. For context, the NFL Draft had an estimated net economic impact of $165 million in Detroit. The RU4M’s economic impact would be like holding the NFL draft more than 144 times in a year all across Michigan. Together, RU4M universities employ nearly 71,000 people – more than GM and Ford, the state’s two largest employers.

The RU4M’s research and development and commercialization efforts make significant contributions to key industries in Michigan, such as sustainability, artificial intelligence, life and health sciences and advanced manufacturing. In 2022, RU4M universities conducted $1.64 billion in life sciences R&D. Over the past five years, these universities conducted an estimated more than $565 million in mobility-related R&D. In total, the RU4M conducts $2.87 billion in R&D annually, propelling Michigan into the top 10 states for academic R&D.

RU4M universities graduate significantly more professionals into the medical field than any other university research cluster — more than its peers in Massachusetts, and northern and southern California. Last year, the RU4M granted more than 2,500 medical degrees for the fourth year in a row. Over the last decade, the number of medical degrees granted by the RU4M grew by over 21%. The RU4M also reached a new high last year in nursing degrees granted, at 1,251.

“The RU4M is a critical partner in helping to strengthen the healthcare workforce both in our state and across the nation,” said Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, which represents all community hospitals in Michigan. “The RU4M’s contributions are not only vital for addressing immediate workforce needs but also for shaping the future of healthcare delivery and innovation through research partnerships with hospitals across the state.”

The RU4M also leads the nation in several degree fields that are important for advanced manufacturing jobs, including electrical and computer engineering, and business administration management.

“These are the kinds of graduates needed to create autonomous vehicles, medical devices, better agricultural crops and solutions to the challenges our communities and industries face today,” said RU4M Executive Director Britany Affolter-Caine. “Michigan’s RU4M remains a powerful driver of Michigan’s economic success, keeping our state on the cutting edge of new technology, medical breakthroughs and training the talent needed to keep Michigan competitive.”