Study finds University of Nebraska system had $6.4 billion economic impact last year

A study performed by business consultant agency Tripp Umbach found that per capita, the University of Nebraska has the largest economic impact on its state in the nation.

The information comes in light of announcements to shrink National Institute of Health grants that fund some university research. In 2024, NU universities received over $113 million in NIH grants. Dr. Paul Umbach, founder of Tripp Umbach, said the funding cuts would impact not only the university, but all of Nebraska.

“Cuts in research have a big impact on the cuts in the economic development of the state,” Umbach said. “Because there's less money to spend, there's less innovation. That innovation really turns into discovery. It turns into procedures, discoveries that could impact the health of people.”

In response to potential cuts, NU President Jeffery Gold said he has been in contact with the governor, the legislature in the state, as well as those representing Nebraska in Washington D.C.

“We are working hard to one understand the impact of this two to make sure that our state understand that this is not just about the East Coast and the West Coast, but this is about every academic medical center and public university system in between,” Gold said. “And then to provide data, real time data, including stories about how these dollars change people's lives.

A federal judge halted the order to shrink NIH funding, but Gold said that grant money is currently frozen, meaning universities and research institutes are beginning to have to dip into their reserves.