Many states across the country cut funding for public higher education during the Great Recession.
And a new report shows the money hasn’t been replaced in most states – including in Michigan.
The study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows Michigan is about average when it comes to state funding levels for public universities. But experts say it’s actually worse than that.
That’s because in the early 2000s Michigan went through its own mini-recession.
Daniel Hurley is with the Michigan Association of State Universities. He says state financing has improved over the last couple years, but not enough.
“These are the good times in terms of revenue, forecast growth and low unemployment. What happens when there is a return to another recession?”
Only five states now spend more per university student than they did before the Great Recession.