Massachusetts’s Eds and Meds: The First Statewide Economic Impact Report

Massachusetts’s hospitals, universities, colleges, and community health centers—collectively known as “Eds & Meds”—are more than providers of world-class education and healthcare. They are foundational to our state’s economic vitality, driving innovation, employment, and regional development.

These institutions serve as anchors for economic growth, attracting businesses and talent while fostering entrepreneurship and technological advancement. Their impact extends far beyond the vital services they deliver—Eds & Meds are critical engines powering our cities, towns, and the Commonwealth as a whole.

To better understand their role in sustaining economic success, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce commissioned an independent impact report analyzing 88 colleges and universities and 93 health systems across Massachusetts. The findings are clear: billions in economic output and tax revenue, hundreds of thousands of jobs, and an unmatched concentration of talent and innovation.
Explore the full report Read the Executive Summary

Questions? Reach out.

Christopher
Christopher Eicher

Vice President, Government Relations

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Email Christopher

Key Highlights

$155.9B

Is annually produced in the Commonwealth in economic activity.

1 in 5

Jobs in the Commonwealth are linked to our Eds & Meds

858,120+

Jobs are being supported by the Eds & Meds within the Commonwealth

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Top 10 Key Takeaways

  1. Massachusetts’s hospitals, community health centers, universities, and colleges—our Eds & Meds—annually produce $155.9 billion in economic activity, supporting over 858,000 jobs and $71.1 billion in employee compensation. More than 1 in 5 jobs in the Commonwealth is linked to Eds & Meds.

  2. In the City of Boston, Eds & Meds annually produce $69.5 billion in economic activity, supporting more than 353,000 jobs and $35 billion in employee compensation. In total, more than 2 in 5 jobs supported by Eds & Meds are located in Boston.

  3. Outside of Greater Boston, Eds & Meds support more than 230,000 jobs, $15.1 billion in employee compensation, and $37.6 billion in economic activity. More than 1 in 4 jobs supported by Eds & Meds are based in communities outside Boston.

  4. Massachusetts residents who graduate from institutions of higher education within the state earn 15% to 50% more annually than they would without their degree. Associate’s degree recipients, for example, earn $6,510 more per year.

  5. Eds & Meds—most of which are non-profits—contribute $4.1 billion in state tax revenue each year, comprising 10% of the Commonwealth’s non-surtax state revenues. More than $7.9 billion in federal tax revenue is contributed annually.

  1. 1.7 million Commonwealth residents—nearly a quarter of all residents—are graduates of Massachusetts universities and colleges.

  2. Massachusetts is home to the largest concentration of lab space in the nation and 1 in 10 jobs in research and development in the United States—powering global competitiveness with China, Canada, and Germany.

  3. Eds & Meds support over 220,000 jobs outside of healthcare and higher education, including real estate, retail trade, construction, and waste management.

  4. Massachusetts residents benefit from access to a robust ecosystem of specialized and accessible health care and top-tier education facilities, including some of the nation’s top ranked hospitals in cancer care, pediatric medicine, ophthalmology, and orthopedics.

  5. Students, patients, and visitors to the Commonwealth’s Eds & Meds contribute $8.7 billion in economic activity to the local economy every year.

Download the "Anchored in Excellence" report

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