Coming at a time when a “value proposition” of higher education is being scrutinized, CCCU believes that the findings from the survey — sponsored by America’s Christian Credit Union with support from Fieldstead and Company — indicate that Christian higher education is a benefit to the national economy and the lives of students nationwide.

A new study has found that Christian colleges in the United States generate more than $60 billion in annual economic impact to the U.S. economy and generate over $9.7 billion in federal tax revenue each year although the schools themselves have tax-exempt statuses.

The Philadelphia-based consulting firm Econsult Solutions, Inc conducted an analysis of the economic impact that is generated by the 142 U.S.-based institutions associated with the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, one of the nation’s leading Christian higher education associations.

The findings, which were released on Monday, show that institutional expenditures on operations and capital investments from all 142 schools generate upwards of $25.9 billion in annual economic impact, while the earnings of CCCU alumni generate $34.6 billion per year.

This means that CCCU institutions are responsible for an economic output of about $166 million per day.

“In total, [CCCU] supports nearly 340,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs and $18 billion in earnings, and generates nearly $10 billion in federal tax revenue annually,” an executive summary explains.

Coming at a time when a “value proposition” of higher education is being scrutinized, CCCU believes that the findings from the survey — sponsored by America’s Christian Credit Union with support from Fieldstead and Company — indicate that Christian higher education is a benefit to the national economy and the lives of students nationwide.

“This report helps us understand the role of Christian colleges and universities, not only for faith-based scholarship and personal spiritual formation but also as a major economic engine in the U.S., supporting local jobs and generating federal tax revenues,” Lee Huang, senior vice president and principal of Econsult Solutions, said in a statement. “Christian higher education’s value proposition to its participants, as well as to community and society, is very strong. Our nation and our communities need more of what these institutions do, which is act as anchors of economic activity, serve and engage with their immediate neighbors, and add intelligent and service-oriented graduates to tomorrow’s workforce.”

CCCU schools in the U.S. are currently educating over 445,000 students and employ over 72,000 faculty members. Additionally, CCCU claims over 3.5 million alumni worldwide.

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