Higher Education

 

 

Higher education institutions, such as state universities, community colleges, institutes of technology, vocational schools, trade schools, and career colleges, receive funding support through state budgets. In fiscal 2011, state expenditures for higher education purposes totaled $170.4 billion, 10.1 percent of total state spending, down from over 13.0 percent in 1998. Despite increased state spending and federal initiatives to make higher education more affordable, tuition and fees at many four-year public institutions continue a rapid rise.

Staff Contact: Kathryn Vesey White

NASBO Publications

  • A New Funding Paradigm for Higher Education
    The state fiscal landscape has changed dramatically in recent years. Undermined by the impacts of an 18-most recession—often dubbed the Great Recession—state budgets faltered. With revenue collections actually falling in most states, funding from many programs, including higher education, was cut. Always a target during economic downturns, higher education is now facing an entirely new funding crisis wrought by record state budget gaps and forecasts of anemic revenue growth.
  • State Expenditure Report 2010 (Fiscal 2009-2011 Data)
    This report finds that the recent improvement in the national economy has not translated to strong growth in total state spending. This is largely due to the fact that state revenues have not increased as fast as Recovery Act funds have declined, leading to a unique situation in which total state expenditure growth has slowed during the same time that the national economy has been improving.
  • Fiscal Survey of States, Fall 2011
    Although state fiscal conditions continue their slow improvement in fiscal 2012, they are likely to remain constrained due to the lack of a strong national economic recovery and the withdrawal of Recovery Act funds. This slow improvement in state finances is highlighted by the 38 states that reported general fund spending growth in 2011 and the 43 states that reported spending growth for 2012. However, 29 states still have lower general fund spending in fiscal 2012 compared to the pre-recession levels of fiscal 2008.

Washington Report

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