APLU Data Show Decline in State, Local Spending At Four-Years Schools
Quick Takeaways
- In the last six years, state appropriations at APLU member-institutions declined by 27 percent, or $2,718, while local appropriations dropped by 24 percent, or $1,989.
- Tuition and fee revenues per full-time enrollment (FTE) also increased among all groups, according to APLU, which “made up for much of the decline” in appropriations from state and local governments.
- Over the same six years, student enrollment and Education & Related (E&R) expenditures also increased at public four-year institutions.
By Brittany Hackett, Communications Staff
Appropriations from state and local governments for public four-year institutions saw a dramatic decline from 2006-07 to 2012-13, despite simultaneous increases in enrollments of full-time students, according to new data from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU).
In the last six years, state appropriations at APLU member-institutions declined by 27 percent, or $2,718, while local appropriations dropped by 24 percent, or $1,989. The share of state and local appropriations in total revenues also declined between 2006-07 and 2013-13, dropping four percentage points to 20 percent at APLU institutions.
Over the same six years, student enrollment and Education & Related (E&R) expenditures also increased at public four-year institutions. Enrollment at institutions classified as “very high research activities” (VHR) increased by 10 percent, while institutions classified as “high research activities” (HR) saw an increase of 12 percent. Schools classified as “other” saw an increase of 10 percent and APLU institutions saw an increase of 10 percent, as well.
The data also shows increases in the E&R expenditures per full-time enrollment (FTE), with APLU institutions showing a four percent increase after adjusting for inflation. VHR institutions saw a seven percent increase in expenditures, while HR and other institutions saw a one percent increase.
Tuition and fee revenues per FTE also increased among all groups, according to APLU, which “made up for much of the decline” in appropriations from state and local governments. APLU institutions saw a 29 percent increase, while VHR institutions saw a 33 percent increase, HR institutions saw a 23 percent increase, and other institutions saw a 22 percent increase. APLU stated in its report that the “real increase was probably higher because of a change in accounting practices for Pell Grants.
There also was a decline when state and local appropriations were added with tuition and fee revenues, with APLU institutions seeing a two percent decline, or $320. VHR institutions saw a one percent, or $277, decline and HR institutions saw a one percent, or $232, decline.
Publication Date: 9/2/2015
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