Total and Per FTE Student State Appropriations and Public Enrollment over Time
Total state appropriations to public colleges and universities declined by 3% in 2010-11 and by another 11% in 2011-12, after adjusting for inflation.
Figure 12B: State Appropriations for Higher Education: Total Appropriations in 2011 Dollars (in Billions), Appropriations per Public FTE Student in 2011 Dollars, and Public FTE Enrollment (in Millions), 1981-82 to 2011-12
Notes & Sources
NOTE: Enrollment figures are fall FTE enrollments for public two-year and four-year institutions. Enrollment for fall 2011 was estimated based on preliminary IPEDS numbers. Appropriations reported here are for institutional operating expenses, not for capital expenditures. Funding includes both tax revenues and other state funds allocated to higher education.
SOURCES: The College Board, Annual Survey of Colleges; Illinois State University, Grapevine reports; NCES, Digest of Education Statistics 2011, Table 227; calculations by the authors.
- State appropriations per public FTE student increased by 1% from 1981-82 to 1991-92 and by 9% from 1991-92 to 2001-02 after adjusting for inflation, but declined by 5% from 2001-02 to 2006-07, and by another 25% from 2006-07 to 2011-12, including a 10% decline in the most recent year.
- Federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act supplemented state funds over three fiscal years, increasing state appropriations (in 2011 dollars) by $2.4 billion in 2008-09, $6.1 billion in 2009-10, and $2.9 billion in 2010-11.
- Total FTE enrollment in public two-year and four-year colleges and universities grew by 16% from 1981-82 to 1991-92 and by 10% from 1991-92 to 2001-02. Enrollment growth was much more rapid over the most recent decade, with increases of 10% from 2001-02 to 2006-07 and 15% from 2006-07 to 2011-12.