National Report on Higher Education Documents State's Shrinking Support for Public Colleges
Cutting funding boosts tuition, reduces course offerings, and -- according to one expert -- can deter businesses from moving to New Jersey.
New Jersey has cut funding for public colleges by more than a quarter since the start of the recession, resulting in higher tuition at the exact time layoffs and salary cuts were making it more difficult for many families to pay more, according to a new national report. The study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that, nationally, states are spending an inflation-adjusted $2,353, or 28 percent, less per student this year than in 2008. New Jersey’s reduction of $2,549 per student was the 20th largest in the nation. And it's taking a toll in a number of ways. Public colleges are raising tuition by more than 10 percent on average -- pushing up already-steep charges. The state of the state's fees and funding are also …
