Oklahoma Ranked 12th in State Funding Cuts to Higher Education

• Joe Wertz
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Joe Wertz was a reporter and managing editor for StateImpact Oklahoma from 2011-2019. He reported on energy and environment issues for national NPR audiences and other national outlets. He previously worked as a managing editor, assistant editor and staff reporter at several major Oklahoma newspapers and studied journalism at the University of Central Oklahoma.

AdamLogan / Flickr

An Oklahoma State University graduate talks on her cellphone shortly after receiving her diploma.

Oklahoma ranked 12th in cuts to higher education funding last year, according a list assembled by the Associated Press.

The funding has declined because of a slow recession recovery and the end of federal stimulus money, according to the annual Grapevine study, prepared by the Center for the Study of Education Policy at Illinois State University.

When federal stimulus money is excluded, state funding for higher education declined 9.6 percent from FY 2011 to FY 2012 in Oklahoma, the AP reported.

State funding for higher education declined the most in New Hampshire, 41.3 percent, during that time period. Montana increased state funding for higher ed. the most, 17.2 percent.

The funding reductions, seen across nearly every state, have resulted in larger class sizes and fewer course offerings at many universities and come as enrollment continues to rise, the AP’s Christine Armario reported.

State funding for higher education has declined because of a slow recovery from the recession and the end of federal stimulus money, according to the study, which was released Monday.

Higher education in Oklahoma will likely be in the cross-hairs for the upcoming legislative session, state House and Senate budget leaders confirmed to StateImpact Oklahoma.

Meanwhile, higher education officials are traveling across the state to make the case for a $34 million budget increase, the Tulsa World‘s Sara Plummer reports.

The Grapevine study doesn’t take enrollment into account. Enrollment in Oklahoma colleges has increased by 16,000 students in four years, state Chancellor Glen Johnson said, the Tulsa World reported.