Featured Reports

Annual Grapevine Compilation of State Fiscal Support for Higher Education: FY 2018-19

7 February 2019 In Featured Reports

Annual Grapevine Compilation of State Fiscal Support for Higher Education: FY 2018-19

By MacGregor Obergfell

Since 1961, Grapevine has annually compiled and published data relating to state fiscal support for higher education. The 2019 version of this data set, covering FY19, was recently released.

Among the findings:

  • 43 states increased higher education allocations from FY18 to FY19.
    • Nationwide, state fiscal support for higher education increased 3.7% from FY18 to FY19, and 5.7% from FY17 to FY19. State fiscal support for higher education increased 18.1% from FY14 to FY19.
    • Colorado had the largest FY18 to FY 19 increase at 12%. South Carolina had the largest FY18 to FY19 funding decrease at 3.7%.
  • Nationwide, $5.26 per $1000 in personal income was allocated to public higher education in FY19. S $280.24 per capita in fiscal support for higher education was allocated in FY19.
    • Wyoming had the largest allocation per $1000 in personal income ($11.18) and per capita support for higher education ($666.05) in FY19.
    • New Hampshire had the smallest allocation per $1000 in personal income ($1.56) and per capita support for higher education ($94.76) in FY19.
    • Nationally, allocations for higher education per $1000 in personal income have dropped from $5.50 in FY14 to $5.26 in FY19. Per capita funding has increased from $243.71 in FY14 to $280.24 in FY19.
  • 51% of all state fiscal support for higher education is derived from only 7 states (California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, and Georgia).
    • These 7 states collectively increased state support for higher education by 4.5% between FY18 and FY19.
    • The remaining 43 states collectively increased state support for higher education by 2.8%.
    • California alone accounts for 16.9% of total state fiscal support for higher education nationwide.
  • In FY19, 19 states supported higher education only through tax appropriations.
    • Of the 31 states that provide fiscal support to higher education through additional means, tax appropriations were the largest allocation to higher education.