Student spending drops to 25-year low

The amount being spent per student by American public colleges and universities has fallen to its lowest level in at least 25 years, a result of state budget cuts that a new report warns are rapidly eroding the nation’s educational edge over its international competitors, writes Jon Marcus for the The Hechinger Report.

The report, by the Colorado-based State Higher Education Executive Officers, or SHEEO, shows that state and local financial support for public colleges and universities fell 7% last year, on top of a 9% drop the year before. And while enrolment also fell slightly – a result, the organisation’s president said, not of lower demand, but of higher tuition costs – it’s still higher than in 2008, when the steep budget cuts began.

The result is that the amount being spent, per student, is $5,896 – the lowest level in the 25 years it’s been tracked by SHEEO. And a much higher proportion of that is being charged to families in the form of tuition fees than is being covered by states. Nearly half of the cost of public higher education is now borne, in the form of tuition fees paid, by students – and that is more than double the proportion of 25 years ago, SHEEO said.
Full report on The Hechinger Report site