FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, December 16, 2025
CONTACT: Christina Johnson
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) released The Fiscal and Economic Impacts of Nova Southeastern University on Florida’s Economy independent research project to tell the story of Nova Southeastern University (NSU) and to analyze NSU’s fiscal and economic impacts on Florida’s economy.
NSU’s main campus, located in Ft. Lauderdale-Davie, is home to 13 colleges, centers, and schools. NSU also operates student education centers and satellite campuses in Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Miramar, Orlando, Palm Beach-Palm Beach Gardens, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Tampa-Bay-Clearwater. With annual enrollment in excess of 20,000 students, Nova Southeastern University’s academic programs emphasize the critical areas of marine life, cancer research, brain health, among others.
Florida TaxWatch President and CEO Dominic M. Calabro said, “As the largest private research university in Florida and a top employer in the state, Nova Southeastern University has developed a reputation for producing confident, capable, and caring professionals who make a difference in the lives of people in Florida and around the world.”
Florida TaxWatch Executive Vice President and General Counsel Jeff Kottkamp said, “Nova Southeastern University is the state’s largest private research university, a national leader in education, and its elite status designation by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education is due to NSU reaching the highest levels of research activity, research funding, and doctoral degrees awarded. Moreover, as one of only three universities in the U.S. with both Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) colleges, NSU is the largest educator of physicians in Florida and the largest producer of health care providers, with terminal degrees, in the nation. We thank NSU for their commitment to building a world class academic health care system that delivers exceptional patient care.”
At A Glance:
- Nova Southeastern University generated an estimated $293.1 million in state and local taxes within the Tri-County region in FY 2024-25 and an estimated $305.1 million in state and local taxes in FY 2024-25.
- NSU operations generate 9,646 jobs and $1.59 billion in economic impacts within the Tri-County region in FY 2024-25 and 10,416 jobs and $1.71 billion in economic impacts in FY 2024-25, respectively.
- NSU alumni spending generates 25,516 jobs and $4.96 billion in economic impacts within the Tri-County region in FY 2024-25 and 26,425 jobs and $5.08 billion in economic impacts in FY 2024-25, respectively.
- All told, NSU operations and alumni spending generate 35,162 jobs and $6.55 billion in economic impacts within the Tri-County region in FY 2024-25 and 36,841 jobs and $6.79 billion in economic impacts statewide in FY 2024-25, respectively. Every $1 invested by an NSU student generates a return (earnings gained) of more than $6 – truly a huge impact to the state of Florida.
For more detailed information on the report, please click here.
About Florida TaxWatch
As an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit government watchdog and taxpayer research institute, and the trusted “eyes and ears” of Florida taxpayers for more than 45 years, Florida TaxWatch (FTW) works to improve the productivity and accountability of Florida government. Its research recommends productivity enhancements and explains the statewide impact of fiscal and economic policies and practices on taxpayers and businesses. FTW is supported by its membership via voluntary, tax-deductible donations and private grants. Donations provide a solid, lasting foundation that has enabled FTW to bring about a more effective, responsive government that is more accountable to, and productive for, the taxpayers it has served since 1979. For more information, please visit www.floridataxwatch.org.
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