States Throwing Money at Higher Education

An analysis of state spending on higher education from The Chronicle of Higher Education shows that overall spending increases substantially outpaced inflation. While the article's perspective (and the perspective of most public university leaders) is that spending increases should be added to the famous "death and taxes" adage, the numbers it presents show dramatic spending increases nationwide.

Of key importance, the study notes, "The jump in student-aid spending may reflect the rising cost of public-college tuition." And vice versa - as a Cato Institute study finds, greater student aid (primarily from federal sources) encourages universities to raise tuition.