A new report shows that Champlain College is making an impressive annual economic impact on the State of Vermont—$446 million worth in 2021.
The report, “The Economic Impact of Champlain College on Burlington and Vermont,” assesses economic-related contributions from the College, including spending, knowledge, local government, entrepreneurship, and community engagement.
Other key report findings include:
- The College is a net importer of skilled talent to Vermont — almost 20% of Champlain College students come from Vermont, and nearly 40% of graduates stay in Vermont after graduation
- There are 1,020 Vermont small businesses owned by Champlain alumni that created a total of 3,105 jobs and $270 million in revenue
- 11,817 Champlain alumni reside in Vermont
“Champlain College’s career-focused education prepares students to be ready for work, ready for life, and ready to make a difference right here in Vermont,” said Alex Hernandez, Champlain College President. “Our institution, faculty, and students are serving as an engine of opportunity for the state — with nearly half of our graduates remaining in Vermont to start local businesses or work for Vermont-based companies.”
Champlain has a long history of innovative programs that engage students in experiential learning and prepare them for their future careers. Peter Jewett ‘06, Founder and CEO at Burlington-based companies Accessible Web and Bytes.co, was drawn to Champlain College for its Upside-Down Curriculum and Stiller School of Business. “I’ve been a lifelong entrepreneur,” said Jewett. “I was able to bring that spirit to Champlain and add a solid business foundation that allowed me to launch new ventures and be a part of a growing community of young entrepreneurs in Vermont.”
Marguerite Dibble ‘12, Board of Trustee member and CEO of Burlington-based GameTheory, attended Champlain because of its BYOBiz (Bring Your Own Business) program, which has evolved into the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Buzzing with entrepreneurial energy, Dibble fell in love with video game development, founding Birnamwood Games, now GameTheory, in her junior year.
“Throughout my time at Champlain, I had about 16 different businesses, starting with t-shirts and ending with game design,” said Dibble. “The college fostered a place for me to achieve the goals I’ve always had in mind, including self-direction and technology.” More than 10 years later, Dibble employs Champlain alumni and partners with dozens of organizations to create games for education and research.
Champlain College has an incredible impact on its students, faculty, graduates, the Burlington community, and greater Vermont. This career-focused college is attracting students from around the world, readying them for critical, high-skilled jobs, and contributing to the growing economic and entrepreneurial landscape of the state. Champlain is well-positioned to continue expanding its economic impact in Vermont and beyond.
The report was completed by Kevin Stokes, CEO of EconIMPACT, a leading provider of Economic Impact studies for private universities. Stokes has developed a unique method for determining the impact of higher education on municipal budgets and has worked with various colleges and universities.
Champlain In The News
Champlain students, alumni, and employees are making an impact, and that impact is being recognized by news and media outlets in Vermont and across the nation:
- Small Colleges Can Make a Big Impact in Their State (Fierce Education)
- In Depth: Champlain College students make big impact on local economy (NBC5)
- Champlain College president discusses 1st year on job and vision for school’s future (WCAX)
- New report shows Champlain College’s economic impact on Vermont is $446 million (Vermont Business Magazine)
