STATE FINANCING, ENROLLMENT, AND TUITION RATES OF PUBLIC COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Abstract

This study examined the effects of national FTE enrollment rates and tuition and fee rates on state appropriations of public community colleges during the 1980‐1990 decade. The data show particularly high positive correlations between year‐by‐state appropriations, year‐by‐tuition and fees, state appropriations‐by‐tuition and fees, and percent change per year for state appropriations by percent‐change‐per year for tuition and fees. Further studies must be done on constant dollar cost analyses to determine the required levels of state funding for the survival of public community colleges today.