In partnership with Ingram Market Analytics, CIC offered a virtual workshop on the development of an Economic Impact Report, including a set of resources members can use to create a one- to two-page infographic for use in demonstrating the economic value of your institution to your community.
Traditional metrics (graduation rates, retention, and rankings) measure student outcomes but not the full breadth of an institution’s contributions to its region and community. An economic impact report translates institutions’ operations into dollars, jobs, and measurable community benefits.
The workshop familiarizes participants with the tools, templates, and methodology to build credible economic impact reports using low-cost or free resources. Participants work through a synthetic case study and complete a working template you can adapt to your own institution.
“This was one of the best webinars I have ever been at – so helpful, practical and impactful for a small 1 person IR shop. Thank you so much! I’m so grateful for all of the resources, guidance and wisdom you have shared.”
Alison Vallereux, Associate Dean of Institutional Research, Emmanuel College (MA)
The workshop covered:
- Identifying readily available data sources (IPEDS, payroll, enrollment) for economic impact
- Calculating direct economic impact and applying RIMS II multipliers to estimate total regional impact
- Building benefit-cost ratios demonstrating student return on investment using publicly available earnings data
- Creating compelling visualizations tailored to boards, legislators, donors, and community stakeholders
- Developing an implementation plan for completing and updating your institution’s economic impact report
Held on June 16, 2026, the webinar recording and associated resources are available to CIC members on the Economic Impact Resources page.