With President Obama sounding the bell on the need to make college
more affordable, in particular student loans, no state is innocent of slashing
higher education funding and allowing tuition rates at public universities to
skyrocket.
more affordable, in particular student loans, no state is innocent of slashing
higher education funding and allowing tuition rates at public universities to
skyrocket.
Most states in the past year have begun to restore some of the
cuts they made to higher education funding after the recession hit, according
to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. In almost all states,
however, higher education funding remains well below pre-recession levels, as
the CBPP explained in a recent paper.
cuts they made to higher education funding after the recession hit, according
to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. In almost all states,
however, higher education funding remains well below pre-recession levels, as
the CBPP explained in a recent paper.
In Michigan, the numbers are dreary but, in comparison, perhaps
not as bad as some might have assumed. The CBPP analysis from 2008-14 (fiscal
years) shows that tuition at Michigan’s universities rose 21.5 percent during
that period of time while funding supplied by the Legislature fell 28 percent.
not as bad as some might have assumed. The CBPP analysis from 2008-14 (fiscal
years) shows that tuition at Michigan’s universities rose 21.5 percent during
that period of time while funding supplied by the Legislature fell 28 percent.
Those numbers put the Great Lakes State pretty much right at the
national average.
national average.
The Red States tend to have the worst numbers, with a couple of
exceptions.
exceptions.
Because of funding declines, tuition over the six years from
2008-14 jumped 66.5 percent in Florida and Georgia, 55.2 percent in Alabama, 52
percent in Louisiana and a whopping 80.6 percent in Arizona.
2008-14 jumped 66.5 percent in Florida and Georgia, 55.2 percent in Alabama, 52
percent in Louisiana and a whopping 80.6 percent in Arizona.
Those numbers put average, annual tuition increases in those states at roughly 6 times the yearly rate of inflation for that time period. Obviously, Arizona is off the charts.
California is a state that prided itself for many decades on its
low-cost universities but apparently the years of fiscal mess has taken its
toll. The Golden State saw tuition hikes of 62.4 percent, and nearby Washington
State posted a 60.7 percent increase.
low-cost universities but apparently the years of fiscal mess has taken its
toll. The Golden State saw tuition hikes of 62.4 percent, and nearby Washington
State posted a 60.7 percent increase.
For an interactive map showing data from each state, click here.
