A recent study released by the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs indicates that Western Illinois University’s economic impact within a 16-county region in west central Illinois is approximately $473 million.

During Fiscal Year 2015, the University's employment and operations, capital improvement expenditures and student expenditures created or supported 3,904 full- and part-time employment positions, generating nearly $225.5 million in labor income. Counties included are Adams, Brown, Carroll, Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jo Davies, Knox, Mason, McDonough, Mercer, Rock Island, Schuyler, Warren and Whiteside.

The total annual economic impact of WIU is determined by several components including $89.6 million in operational expenditures; $172.3 million in employment compensation; $40.8 million in student expenditures; and $8.2 million in capital improvement and construction expenditures.