Economic Impact

With 8,705 students, 1,850 employees, and operating expenditures of $159 million (in 2010/2011), our University has a significant economic impact on the Cities of Thunder Bay and Orillia and the surrounding regions.

Seventy per cent of Lakehead’s full-time students come from outside the local commuting area and new money annually brought into Thunder Bay by these students is estimated to be $81.8 million. Lakehead’s total annual economic impact on the City of Thunder Bay is approximately $323.7 million. Our University’s estimated annual economic impact on the City of Orillia is $16.5 million.