Total Federal, Institutional, Private and Employer, and State Grants over Time

After adjusting for inflation, total grant aid increased from $32.0 billion (in 2011 dollars) in 1991-92 to $53.7 billion in 2001-02, to $70.2 billion in 2006-07, and to $112.3 billion in 2011-12.

Figure 5: Growth of Federal, Institutional, Private and Employer, and State Grant Dollars in 2011 Dollars, 1991-92 to 2011-12
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Growth of Federal, Institutional, Private and Employer & State Grants over Time
Notes & Sources 

NOTE: Percentages may not sum to 100 because of rounding.

SOURCE: Table 1.

Key Points
  • Over the decade from 1991-92 to 2001-02, state grant aid and grants from employers and other private sources grew more rapidly than federal and institutional grants. Over the most recent decade, however, federal grant aid grew by 185% after adjusting for inflation and institutional grant aid almost doubled, while the other sources of grant aid increased more slowly.
  • Federal grant aid declined from 40% of all grants in 1991-92 to 32% in 2001-02 and to 30% in 2006-07. Because of sharp increases in Pell Grants and aid for veterans, by 2011-12, the federal government provided 44% of the grant aid received by all postsecondary students.
  • Because postsecondary enrollment increased by 34% over the decade from 2001-02 to 2011-12, the 109% increase in total grant aid generated a 56% increase in inflation-adjusted grant dollars per FTE.
Also Important
  • Pell Grants declined from 73% to 67% of federal grant aid between 2001-02 and 2006-07, and were 70% of the total in 2011-12. Veterans and military aid increased from 19% to 27% of total federal grants over the decade.
  • The large increase in federal grant aid in 2009-10 resulted from a combination of policy changes, growth in enrollment, and economic conditions that increased unemployment and reduced family and student financial capacity.