Higher Education

Public colleges and universities are higher education institutions founded by state governments and partially funded through state tax dollars.

New Hampshire’s public colleges and universities include the University System of New Hampshire, the Community College System of New Hampshire, Keene State College, Plymouth State University, and Granite State College. They are funded through a combination of state money, federal funds, tuition and fees, and private donations. 

The New Hampshire Legislature does not have control over the entire university system budget or what they charge for tuition.  Instead, the Legislature decides how much state funding to give public higher education every two years as part of the state budget.  Leaders at New Hampshire’s public colleges and universities then decide how to spend that money and set tuition rates.

Current higher education funding in NH

New Hampshire funding for public colleges and universities is low compared to other states.

On average, public colleges and universities in the United States get about one-fifth of their funding from state government. In New Hampshire, state funding only covers about one-tenth of the budget for the University System of New Hampshire. 

According to data from the College Board, in 2018 New Hampshire had the lowest state funding for higher education in the United States, at $2,960 per student (based on total enrollment). 

Tuition and fees cover most of the difference. In New Hampshire, tuition and fees make up over one-third of the revenue for public colleges and universities, compared to a national average of 21%.

It is not surprising, then, that New Hampshire public colleges and universities had the second-highest highest average in-state tuition in the United States, at $16,460 in 2018, with only Vermont higher at 16,610. (The national average was $10,230.)

Historical highs and lows for university funding

Funding for public colleges and universities was much higher before the recession. In 2001 New Hampshire funding per student reached a high of $5,515. 

However, due to falling tax revenues, the 2011 New Hampshire Legislature cut college and university funding by roughly half, down to less than $2,000 per student. The University of New Hampshire raised tuition at its four-year colleges by about 10% to cover the loss. 

The Legislature restored about half of that higher education funding in the next state budget, in 2013. New Hampshire’s two-year community colleges and four-year institutions were both able to freeze tuition for the next two years. 

In 2015 the Legislature once again increased college and university funding, but this time only by about 5%. The community college was able to actually cut tuition at that point, but the University of New Hampshire broke the freeze and raised tuition at four-year colleges again.

In 2017, the Legislature level-funded the University System of New Hampshire but gave the Community College System more funding. In return, New Hampshire’s community colleges have promised another tuition freeze. Tuition is expected to continue to increase at New Hampshire’s four-year public colleges and universities.

Alternatives to increasing state funding

Most legislators agree that New Hampshire residents benefit from lower tuition at public colleges and universities. Raising state funding isn’t the only way to keep college affordable for Granite Staters, however.

There are also various state and federal student loan programs that help students afford college – at least in the short-term. However, some critics argue the wide availability of student loans just enables colleges to raise tuition.

Efficiency

The Legislature has expressed interest in how the university system could spend more efficiently. For example, public colleges and universities could offer more courses online, limit spending on athletics, or use more adjunct faculty instead of tenured professors. 

Alternative funding formulas

One way the Legislature could push for public colleges and universities to spend more efficiently would be to link funding to student enrollment or educational outcomes, instead of granting an arbitrary lump sum.

Spending caps

Some states have passed laws to cap how much universities may raise tuition, such as limiting increases to a certain percentage each year, or tying them to changes in the state’s median income. Others legislate how much universities can spend on certain programs. These caps can keep tuition low, but might put more pressure on legislators to use state funds to make up any shortfall in a school’s budget.

In Maryland, lawmakers have addressed this challenge by creating a stabilization fund—a special ‘rainy day’ fund for the public university system which can be tapped when revenue drops or costs go up to take the pressure off tuition rates.

Funding financial aid

Some states allocate additional spending to financial aid, rather than general institutional aid. The goal of this policy is to see that the extra money is targeted toward helping poorer students who might not otherwise be able to afford college. However, critics express concern that the “sticker shock” of overall tuition rates might intimidate some out of applying at all. 

Competition

Colorado has experimented with a sort of voucher program, which gives every college student a stipend for credits at either public or private colleges. Ideally this program forces public colleges to compete with private colleges to offer the best value for students.