FUNDING THE FUTURE
OF HIGHER EDUCATION By Peter Ehrhard, ehrhardp@mst.edu
A
s state funding for public universities continues to decline, institutions across the country are turning toward other sources of support. At Missouri S&T, donors have stepped in to address strategic needs. A more balanced approach to sustaining revenue, one that includes private support and enrollment growth, would also help S&T better navigate economic downturns or cuts in state funding. The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that state and federal support for higher education has declined as a share of overall revenue throughout the country. This places a greater burden on college students. According to the U.S. Department of Education, Missouri S&T has seen a 6.1% decline in state support over the past decade. Grapevine, the Illinois State University database of state tax support, ranked Missouri 46th in state funding for higher education per capita in 2019.
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