Public universities rely on state support for a substantial share of their operating revenues, most of which support their education function. The amount of funding provided per full-time equivalent (FTE) student in public universities is an indicator of a state’s investment in the education of its students. Data are drawn from the annual State Higher Education Finance report produced by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO). SHEEO collects data on all state and local revenues used to support higher education, including revenue from taxes, lottery receipts, royalty revenue, and state-funded endowments. This indicator also takes into account FTE enrollment in public higher education, which is calculated from the aggregate number of enrolled credit hours (including summer session enrollments but excluding most noncredit or nondegree program enrollments and medical school enrollments). This measure is equivalent to one student enrolled full time for one academic year. The year is the end date of the academic year. For example, data for 2019 represent costs and enrollment for the 2018–19 academic year.

State funds are one of many sources of public university revenue. This indicator does not include changes in these other sources of revenue.

Data source: State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, State Higher Education Finance.