The Decline Of The Public University
As a professor at a public university, I have long heard about the decline in state support for state schools. But as the graph above shows, we have just past a surprising threshold.
Back in 2003, public colleges were funded primarily by state governments. Since then, state funding dropped while tuition rose. And for the first time, according to a new study, students are putting more money into public colleges than the states.
The study, which was conducted by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, traced public college revenue between 2003 and 2012. In 2003, state funding accounted for 32% of public college’s revenue — more than any other source — while tuition made up 17%.
But almost every year since then, money from students (and their parents and grandparents) went up, while state funding dropped. By 2012, tuition made up 25% of revenue, while money from state governments made up 23%.
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Copyright 2015 Liberaland
By: Stuart Shapiro
Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.
21 responses to The Decline Of The Public University
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greenfloyd January 5th, 2015 at 21:05
I think it was around 1995 we passed another dubious threshold, as a nation we began spending more on prisons than higher education. Increasing tuitions and less scholarships has made college impossible for qualified low income students. Those who do not qualify for a loan can go to prison, and get a whole different educational experience. It’s a shot to the heart of the American Dream. Corrupt politicians don’t want a bunch of smart people out there casting informed votes or promoting real Democracy. It’s a fact, Liberal Democrats are more intelligent then Conservative Republicans. Liberals also know smart people are less violent, more honest and generally have a better sense of humor. :) A Liberal Nation is a Happy Nation!
rg9rts January 6th, 2015 at 04:13
Texas ….privatization
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org January 5th, 2015 at 22:05
I think it was around 1995 we passed another dubious threshold, as a nation we began spending more on prisons than higher education. Increasing tuitions and less scholarships has made college impossible for qualified low income students. Those who do not qualify for a loan can go to prison, and get a whole different educational experience. It’s a shot to the heart of the American Dream. Corrupt politicians don’t want a bunch of smart people out there casting informed votes or promoting real Democracy. It’s a fact, Liberal Democrats are more intelligent then Conservative Republicans. Liberals also know smart people are less violent, more honest and generally have a better sense of humor. :) A Liberal Nation is a Happy Nation!
rg9rts January 6th, 2015 at 05:13
Texas ….privatization
SteveD January 5th, 2015 at 23:22
From the USA Today referenced article:
“The federal government primarily spends money* giving loans and grants and work-study funds directly to students,” Emrey-Arras said. “In terms of partnering with the states to improve affordability at public colleges, there’s a lot less money going to that effort.”
This is all by design, by those whose primary goal is to increase the wealth, power and opportunity GAPS, via an ever more unbridled effort to instill absolute domination and control by the ultra-rich over every facet of the lives of the rest of us. (Think Koch and their ilk from BOTH political persuasions, bribing/”donating”/funding politicians at the local, state and federal levels.)
By all means, make students (parents, grandparents) pay more. While we are at it, why not privatize ALL education to really benefit the few at the expense of the rest?
What is this reduced spending for public post-secondary education really all about? Money for the few at the expense of rest (as always). Student loans are of the “if you’ve got a pulse, then you’ve got a loan” type because Uncle Sam is the full guarantor. Yet none of these student loans are able to be discharged in bankruptcy. The issuer ends up winning on either account. (Of course some may justify this growing debt enslavement by proclaiming that if you can’t overcome enormous financial burden or hardship, then your “education,” won’t be worth much.)
By all means, let’s not invest in the future by actually paying for it today. Because well you know, we don’t really need a determined, educated and productive populace, especially into the future. (Think competition-think China, think India, most of the Eurozone, Brazil and even Russia, where education still seems a virtue/investment and not just a cost.)
* The federal govt could just pay for advanced education with deficits. The deficits would be more than “paid for” via a well-trained, growing, productive domestic working/contributing populace. (Of course that kind of “paying for education” would be considered as some sort of liberal commie conspiracy to narrow the wealth, power and opportunity GAPS. We couldn’t have that now.)
(Actually I believe we just passed that threshold, college professor.)
SteveD January 6th, 2015 at 00:22
From the USA Today referenced article:
“The federal government primarily spends money* giving loans and grants and work-study funds directly to students,” Emrey-Arras said. “In terms of partnering with the states to improve affordability at public colleges, there’s a lot less money going to that effort.”
This is all by design, by those whose primary goal is to increase the wealth, power and opportunity GAPS, via an ever more unbridled effort to instill absolute domination and control by the ultra-rich over every facet of the lives of the rest of us. (Think Koch and their ilk from BOTH political persuasions, bribing/”donating”/funding politicians at the local, state and federal levels.)
By all means, make students (parents, grandparents) pay more. While we are at it, why not privatize ALL education to really benefit the few at the expense of the rest?
What is this reduced spending for public post-secondary education really all about? Money for the few at the expense of rest (as always). Student loans are of the “if you’ve got a pulse, then you’ve got a loan” type because Uncle Sam is the full guarantor. Yet none of these student loans are able to be discharged in bankruptcy. The issuer ends up winning on either account. (Of course some may justify this growing debt enslavement by proclaiming that if you can’t overcome enormous financial burden or hardship, then your “education,” won’t be worth much.)
By all means, let’s not invest in the future by actually paying for it today. Because well you know, we don’t really need a determined, educated and productive populace, especially into the future. (Think competition-think China, think India, most of the Eurozone, Brazil and even Russia, where education still seems a virtue/investment and not just a cost.)
* The federal govt could just pay for advanced education with deficits. The deficits would be more than “paid for” via a well-trained, growing, productive domestic working/contributing populace. (Of course that kind of “paying for education” would be considered as some sort of liberal commie conspiracy to narrow the wealth, power and opportunity GAPS. We couldn’t have that now.)
(Actually I believe we just passed that threshold, college professor.)
rg9rts January 6th, 2015 at 04:12
The gopee education plan in action….cut education funding and raise tuition to the heavens and put students into indentured servitude for life to pay off student loans… to the local GOPEE BANK
eyelashviper January 6th, 2015 at 11:38
with the real motivation behind it all…keep ’em dumb, all the more pliable to manipulate and abuse.
mfr January 6th, 2015 at 16:20
Not dumb, necessarily, they still need to be competent enough to pull levers and pack boxes. This is where NCLB comes in, you gotta do your best to make sure the underachievers are just as mediocre as the rest while letting the gifted regress towards the mean without any way to flourish. Maximizes output of dull, thinking-but-not-questioning workers so their individual value remains even lower.
The GOP senator’s son will be going to private school, of course, because he’s Just Better™ than those other genetic defectives with the EXACT SAME opportunities, yes siree.
mfr January 6th, 2015 at 16:20
Not dumb, necessarily, they still need to be competent enough to pull levers and pack boxes. This is where NCLB comes in, you gotta do your best to make sure the underachievers are just as mediocre as the rest while letting the gifted regress towards the mean without any way to flourish. Maximizes output of dull, thinking-but-not-questioning workers so their individual value remains even lower.
The GOP senator’s son will be going to private school, of course, because he’s Just Better™ than those other genetic defectives with the EXACT SAME opportunities, yes siree.
Spirit of America January 14th, 2015 at 01:21
How does the gop or dems raise tuition, that is a board of the university decision, no?
rg9rts January 14th, 2015 at 01:38
Uuuh state aid??
Spirit of America January 14th, 2015 at 01:46
No, the tuition, the base cost.
Aid helps pay that cost, but universities charge that cost. My question is why the 55% raise in cost. That is waaaaay beyond inflation.
rg9rts January 6th, 2015 at 05:12
The gopee education plan in action….cut education funding and raise tuition to the heavens and put students into indentured servitude for life to pay off student loans… to the local GOPEE BANK
eyelashviper January 6th, 2015 at 12:38
with the real motivation behind it all…keep ’em dumb, all the more pliable to manipulate and abuse.
mfr January 6th, 2015 at 17:20
Not dumb, necessarily, they still need to be competent enough to pull levers and pack boxes. This is where NCLB comes in, you gotta do your best to make sure the underachievers are just as mediocre as the rest while letting the gifted regress towards the mean without any way to flourish. Maximizes output of dull, thinking-but-not-questioning workers so their individual value remains even lower.
The GOP senator’s son will be going to private school, of course, because he’s Just Better™ than those other genetic defectives with the EXACT SAME opportunities, yes siree.
Spirit of America January 14th, 2015 at 02:21
How does the gop or dems raise tuition, that is a board of the university decision, no?
rg9rts January 14th, 2015 at 02:38
Uuuh state aid??
Spirit of America January 14th, 2015 at 02:46
No, the tuition, the base cost.
Aid helps pay that cost, but universities charge that cost. My question is why the 55% raise in cost. That is waaaaay beyond inflation.
Spirit of America January 14th, 2015 at 01:20
“median tuition at public colleges rose 55%.”
That is one HECK of an increase during that period… anyone know the reason for it?
Spirit of America January 14th, 2015 at 02:20
“median tuition at public colleges rose 55%.”
That is one HECK of an increase during that period… anyone know the reason for it?