Since 2008, Louisiana has cut higher education funding by more than 39%, which comes out to a decrease of $4,602 per student when adjusted for inflation, the Louisiana Budget Project says.
Drawing on numbers from a new report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities titled Funding Down, Tuition Up: State Cuts to Higher Education Threaten Quality and Affordability at Public Colleges, the Louisiana Budget Project also points out that tuition at public four-year universities has risen during that same time span by more than 79%, or $3,493 per student.
“Rapidly rising tuition and fees at a time of weak or declining income growth has damaging consequences for families, students, and the state economy,” the Louisiana Budget Project says in a news release. “Higher tuition jeopardizes the ability of many to afford the college education that is key to their long term well-being. This problem is especially significant for low-income students and students of color, and hurts campus diversity.”
These numbers could get worse if the projected budget cuts for the 2016-17 fiscal year—which include slashing another $95 million in funding and adding $50 million in additional fees families would have to pay—are passed, the Louisiana Budget Project notes. The state’s budget is winding its way through the Senate right now.
“States face a choice of whether to provide tax breaks for powerful interests or return to making a strong investment in higher education and the future workforce,” says Michael Mitchell, a senior policy analyst at CBPP and lead author on the paper, in a statement.
