The current administration’s campaign to eliminate perspectives it deems politically biased from U.S. colleges has created uncertainty across academic institutions. While a federal judge recently blocked efforts to withdraw $2 billion in federal support from Harvard University, the broader conflict remains unresolved. Several other universities are either involved in legal disputes or have accepted unfavorable agreements under pressure.
Earlier this year, leaders from the University of Washington and Seattle University joined over 150 academic peers in condemning what they described as excessive governmental intrusion and politicization of education. At least nine additional colleges and universities in Washington signed a joint appeal by the American Association of Colleges and Universities advocating for cooperative dialogue.
The University of Washington and Washington State University are among more than 50 higher education institutions facing federal scrutiny over claims of racial bias, part of a wider initiative targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives that the administration argues disadvantage white and Asian American students.
This moment marks a critical juncture, not only for academic freedom but also for the long-standing federal investment that has helped position the United States as a global leader in scientific research and innovation over the past century.
Beyond the political debate, it’s valuable to assess the tangible contributions of higher education to societal and economic well-being. Prestigious institutions like UW, Seattle University, and others play a key role in attracting top-tier talent, venture capital, and cutting-edge enterprises to the Seattle region.
In 2023, a study conducted by the Parker Strategy Group revealed that UW secured $1.87 billion in sponsored research funding—placing it among the few American universities surpassing $1 billion annually in such support. The analysis estimated the university’s total economic contribution at $2.6 billion for the state, supporting over 10,600 jobs and generating $93.5 million in tax revenue for local and state governments.
UW Medicine, anchored by the respected UW Medical Center in Seattle’s Montlake area, further strengthens community health and economic resilience.
According to Nichole Parker, managing principal of the consulting firm, “I’ve led more than 600 economic impact studies, many focused on higher education. The University of Washington’s influence stands out as the largest single-institution effect I’ve ever measured.”
Washington State University commissioned its own evaluation through Community Attributes, a Seattle-based economic research firm. The findings showed the university contributed close to $4 billion in overall economic value to the state. For every dollar invested, the return amounted to $12 in economic benefit.
While many fulfilling careers do not require a four-year degree, data from The Seattle Times indicates that over 70% of adults aged 25 and older in Seattle hold at least a bachelor’s degree—the highest proportion among major U.S. cities. This educational advantage benefits individuals and strengthens regional competitiveness, helping explain why the metro area hosts two of the nation’s top tech firms—Amazon and Microsoft—alongside numerous businesses that generate employment, pay taxes, and contribute to philanthropy.
Educational attainment also correlates strongly with increased personal income.
Community colleges serve as vital engines for workforce development and upward mobility. Before pursuing undergraduate studies in history and theater at Arizona State University and graduate work in American history at Miami University of Ohio, the author completed paramedic training at Phoenix College—a stepping stone shared by millions of Americans.
Seattle Central College, for instance, offers training programs for maritime careers. The broader Seattle Colleges network, formerly known as the Seattle Community College District, serves approximately 33,685 students through nearly 130 programs leading to certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees.
Collaborations between Boeing, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and regional community colleges help prepare the next generation of skilled tradespeople.
Another major benefit of universities is technology transfer—the process by which academic research is commercialized in public and private sectors. Silicon Valley’s proximity to Stanford University and UC Berkeley exemplifies this model.
San Diego pioneered a similar approach outside California’s tech corridor, leveraging the University of California, San Diego’s Technology Transfer Office, established in 1979. This initiative helped transform a city once dependent on the Navy and tourism into a hub for wireless communications, life sciences, and startups.
Locally, UW CoMotion serves as the university’s innovation hub. Since 1995, its spin-off ventures—around 110 currently active—have drawn nearly $10 billion in investment across sectors including therapeutics, software, hardware, clean energy, and medical diagnostics.
Dan Turner, dean of Seattle University’s Albers School of Business and Economics, emphasized that “extensive research confirms universities are among the most effective long-term drivers of metropolitan success. They don’t merely create employment. They cultivate talent, spark innovation, and foster networks that reshape entire regional economies.”
Like any institution, higher education is not immune to missteps or blind spots. Yet it remains fundamental to a functioning democracy—not just in science and technology, but especially in nurturing critical thinking, historical awareness, and understanding of the arts, humanities, and diverse cultures. These are enduring benefits.
As Oscar Wilde once remarked, “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” Nelson Mandela similarly viewed education as “the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
— news from The Seattle Times
— News Original —
Attacks on higher education risk social, economic benefits | Jon Talton
The quest of the Oval Office’s far-right occupant to purge what he considers left-wing views from American institutions of higher learning has chilled academia.
Although the administration’s attempt to remove $2 billion in federal funding from Harvard University was reversed by a federal judge, the matter isn’t settled.
Other universities are also in court or have made humiliating settlements.
Earlier this year, as my colleague Kai Uyehara reported, the presidents of the University of Washington and Seattle University joined 150 other leading educators to protest what they considered “unprecedented government overreach and political interference.”
At least nine other universities and colleges in the state joined in the statement from the American Association of Colleges and Universities calling for “constructive engagement.”
The University of Washington and Washington State University were among more than 50 institutions of higher education under investigation for alleged racial discrimination as part of the president’s effort to stop diversity, equity and inclusion programs that his administration says exclude white and Asian American students.
We’re living a pivotal moment on so many fronts. In this case, the federal funding that ensured America was a leader in science and other fields of higher education and, critically, in academic freedom for nearly a century is at risk.
Aside from the political controversy, it’s an opportune time to examine the benefits higher education brings to the economy and society.
It’s no coincidence that highly ranked UW, as well as Seattle University and other institutions in the region help make Seattle a magnet for world-class talent, investment and top innovative companies.
Last year, UW enlisted the Parker Strategy Group, a Philadelphia nonprofit, to examine the university’s footprint. Among the findings for 2023: “The UW is one of the few universities in the U.S. with total research funding over $1 billion annually — in (fiscal 2023), the UW had $1.87 billion in sponsored research.” One result, according to the report, was a favorable effect of $2.6 billion to the state, sustaining 10,641 jobs, and generating $93.5 million in state and local taxes.
UW Medicine, including the well-regarded UW Medical Center in Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood, is another community good.
The Parker report noted, “The UW’s impact across all facets of the Washington economy continues to grow year over year” from an economic and workforce perspective.
“I have done over 600 of these studies, a lot of them in higher education,” said Nichole Parker, the firm’s managing principal. “The University of Washington impact is the single largest impact that I calculate for one institution.”
Washington State University reports that earlier this year it engaged Community Attributes, a Seattle company that studies the economy, to assess WSU’s performance. It found that the university generated nearly $4 billion in total economic impact for the state. Every dollar invested there created $12 in economic good.
Many good jobs are available for people without four-year degrees.
Still, as The Times’ Gene Balk noted recently, more than 70% of adults 25 years and older hold bachelor’s degrees or higher in Seattle, tops among major cities in the nation. This is an enormous advantage not only for individuals but for the city and state. It’s no wonder metro Seattle is home to two of the three Big Five tech giants, Microsoft and Amazon, as well as numerous other taxpaying, job-creating and often philanthropic companies.
Also, higher education correlates with higher income.
Community colleges, too, are engines of economic development, and individual and family betterment.
Long before I began my undergraduate studies in history and theater, with a minor in music, at Arizona State University, or graduate studies in American history at Miami University of Ohio, I did my classroom training to become a paramedic at Phoenix College.
It was my way up, as community colleges are for millions of Americans. Here, for example, Seattle Central College offers programs for people who want to train for maritime careers.
Seattle Colleges, the former Seattle Community College District, enrolls around 33,685 students in around 130 programs offering certificates, associate and bachelor’s degrees.
Boeing and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers partner with community colleges around the region to train the next generation of apprentices here.
One economic benefit from institutions of higher education is technology transfer, where university research migrates to public and private sectors. No wonder Silicon Valley is bracketed by Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley.
Outside Silicon Valley, this model was pioneered in San Diego, with the University of California, San Diego’s Technology Transfer Office. Opened in 1979, it was instrumental in turning a city where I began as a cub reporter from one mostly reliant on the Navy and tourists into a wireless, life sciences and startup powerhouse.
Here, UW CoMotion is the tech transfer unit. Since 1995, CoMotion’s spinoffs — about 110 operating as of now — have attracted nearly $10 billion in funding, across a span of fields such as therapeutics, software, hardware, clean tech and diagnostics.
Dan Turner, dean of the Albers School of Business and Economics at Seattle University, told me, “There’s a lot of good research showing that universities are among the most powerful long-term engines of metropolitan prosperity. They don’t just create jobs. They build talent, generate ideas, and catalyze connections that shape entire regional economies.”
Higher education, like any institution, suffers blunders and blind spots. But it is essential for a self-governing people, and not only in STEM — most of all in helping people enhance their critical thinking skills and learn history, the arts and humanities, and about other cultures. They offer lifelong gifts.
Oscar Wilde quipped that “You can never be overdressed or overeducated.” And Nelson Mandela called education “the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”