Cost of Attendance Report for 1997
Trends and Challenges
Higher education in Connecticut continues to face significant
challenges on the financial front, as competition for limited
state funds intensifies. While Connecticut has never ranked very
high in terms of the portion of the state budget it devotes to
higher education (46th in 1996), higher
education’s share continues to erode1. Direct
appropriations to higher education now represent under 4 percent
of the state’s $10 billion budget, down from over 6.5
percent in 1989. State support in inflation-adjusted dollars has
declined by 20 percent since 1989. In contrast, tuition and
fee-related support has grown by more than 42 percent.
On a positive note, Connecticut did make a remarkable $1
billion commitment to the rebuilding of the decaying physical
infrastructure of the University of Connecticut known as UConn
2000. Included in that plan, however, are major expansion
initiatives which have significant operating budget impacts, for
which the state funding commitments have yet to be realized. In
addition, our Connecticut State University and
Community-Technical College systems have critical infrastructure
requirements which need attention.
In an environment of continued spending constraints, the
state’s financial situation is not expected to improve
anytime soon, particularly given the competing demands for health
care, welfare, elementary and secondary education, and debt
service. A related and, in some respects, more important reality
is that the prospects for major enrollment growth over the next
decade are not promising given projected demographic trends and
current college participation rates (see Attachment A).
Yet education beyond high school is key to individual
financial independence as well as the economic strength of the
state. Individuals with postsecondary educations generally earn
more than those without college experience, remain employed and
generate more revenue for the state through state income, sales
and property taxes. According to the U.S. Census Bureau,
individuals with a bachelor’s degree will earn an average of
$600,000 more over their lifetime than high school graduates and
$800,000 more than high school dropouts (based on 1992 earning
levels). Those who acquire doctorates or professional degrees do
even better, earning just over $2 million and $3 million,
respectively.2
Chart 1:
Estimates of Worklife Earnings, by Level of Education:
1992
(in thousands of dollars)
We also know that in this knowledge-based economy, all
individuals will have to make a commitment to life-long learning
if they are to remain employed and marketable. In short, it is in
the best interest of the individual and the state to encourage
higher learning and ensure access to those learning
opportunities. Now is the time for a renewed partnership between
the individual and the state.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Trends
and Challenges
Who
Are Our Students?
How
Much Does It Cost to Go to College in Connecticut?
Can
Connecticut Students Afford to Pay?
How Does Financial Aid Work?
Are Our Colleges
Able to Meet Need?
Are
Connecticut Public Colleges Affordable?
Conclusions
and Recommendations
End Notes
Attachment A
Attachment
B
Attachment C
Attachment D
Attachment
E
| 
