A new report from a national higher education organization asserts that state and local support to public colleges and universities declined in 2012 to the lowest level in 25 years.
Consequently, the percentage of revenue to universities from tuition has risen to its highest level in the same time span.
Indiana’s figures fall outside the averages significantly in both categories. Across the U.S., the average state support for each full-time student came in at $5,896 in 2012 with tuition costs making up $5,189 of revenue. In Indiana, state support was $4,869 per student while tuition accounted for $7,019 of the average revenue at state institutions.
“There is a correlation between state and local support and tuition increases,” said Andy Carlson, senior policy analyst for State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, which issued its annual State Higher Education Finance report this week. “There is a direct link. No doubt about it.”
In commentary accompanying the report, the group’s President Paul Lingenfelter said, “The depth of the 2008 recession and the economy’s slow recovery are reflected in the funding, enrollment, and net tuition numbers for 2012. Tuition revenues are substantially due to higher prices and more enrollments, but not enough to offset losses of public funding. Students are paying more, while public institutions are receiving substantially less money to educate them.