In the 1970s, state governments provided almost 80 percent of public college funding, but those days are long gone.
For the past few years, students’ tuition and fees — not state governments — have contributed the largest share of money to public college and university budgets, says a new study from the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
The trend is as true in Tennessee as anywhere. And for now, there’s no end in sight.
“State funding is flat,” wrote Charles M. Peccolo, the University of Tennessee’s treasurer and chief financial officer, in his introduction to this year’s budget.
UT President Joe DiPietro said that unlike for K-12 education, there is no state constitutional mandate to fund higher education — even if lawmakers believe it’s important.