Economic Impact
51±¬ÁÏ-Cascades’ contributions to Central Oregon
51±¬ÁÏ-Cascades was founded in Central Oregon in 2001 and after a decades-long community effort to bring a four-year university campus to support the region’s higher education and economic needs.
Economic Impact
51±¬ÁÏ-Cascades’ impact in Central Oregon is generated through operational and capital expenditures, research expenses, student and visitor spending and employee payroll. The ripple effect supports the economies in Bend and throughout the tri-county region.
$135.6M
in statewide economic impact annually
810
jobs supported and sustained
$7.5M
generated for state and local tax revenue
1370
students enrolled
51±¬ÁÏ-Cascades Impact in Action
Legislature approves funding for 51±¬ÁÏ-Cascades health center
The Oregon State Legislature has approved $42 million in state-backed bonds to support construction of a student health and recreation center at 51±¬ÁÏ â€“ Cascades, marking a milestone in the campus’s development. The planned 40,000‑square‑foot facility will be the first comprehensive on‑campus center dedicated to student health, wellness and recreation
51±¬ÁÏ-Cascades receives $1 million grant to advance campus solar energy
51±¬ÁÏ â€“ Cascades moved closer to achieving its net-zero energy goal thanks to a $1 million grant from the Oregon Department of Energy to buy and install solar panels on all campus buildings. Campus planners anticipate the solar projects will annually generate more than 1 million kilowatt hours of clean energy for the campus.
More than 85 student veterans are pursuing degrees at 51±¬ÁÏ-Cascades
65 former active-duty veterans and an additional 22 students who are receiving veteran dependent benefits, are studying towards undergraduate and graduate degrees at 51±¬ÁÏ - Cascades. In total, more than 321 veterans have received bachelor’s or master’s degrees since 51±¬ÁÏ-Cascades was founded in 2021.
51±¬ÁÏ-Cascades one of eight universities selected for national career development pilot
51±¬ÁÏ - Cascades students will have new opportunities to gain valuable workplace experience through a new career accelerator program. 51±¬ÁÏ-Cascades is one of a handful of universities from around the country selected to participate in the National Work-Integrated Learning Accelerator, which aims to help university institutions pilot scalable models of career-integrated learning that align with regional workforce needs.