State Appropriations Related to Higher Education as Percentages of State Taxes1
  1965-66 1975-76 1985-86 1995-96 2005-06 National Rank
United States
10.2
14.2
13.6
10.6
9.5
SREB states
9.9
15.5
16.0
12.6
11.6
Alabama
8.8
21.9
23.1
18.2
16.5
1
Arkansas
11.8
14.2
16.4
12.5
10.6
19
Delaware
5.7
11.7
10.4
8.5
7.6
42
Florida
10.7
14.0
12.4
9.3
8.9
29
Georgia
8.2
14.3
13.6
11.9
12.3
12
Kentucky
10.8
12.1
13.5
10.5
12.1
13
Louisiana
11.6
12.0
14.9
12.1
12.9
9
Maryland
7.9
10.6
11.4
10.0
8.7
30
Mississippi
8.6
17.1
19.4
16.2
13.3
7
North Carolina
9.9
17.9
19.3
14.8
14.4
2
Oklahoma
10.8
12.8
14.4
11.9
10.8
18
South Carolina
6.1
19.7
17.3
13.3
10.2
21
Tennessee
8.5
13.8
16.8
14.6
10.9
17
Texas
12.5
19.7
19.8
15.1
14.3
3
Virginia
6.9
15.2
15.9
11.0
9.3
26
West Virginia
12.1
12.4
12.6
11.8
7.6
41
1 Note that in seven SREB states (Alabama, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas) there are significant additional local funds for higher education-related operations. State appropriations exclude dollars for capital construction and debt payments. Also excluded are funds from sources other than state tax funds, including all funds from federal sources, local sources and student fees. The amounts include funds for medical and health programs, state-level financial aid programs for students, state funds for private colleges and universities, and state funds for coordinating or governing boards of public colleges and universities.
Sources: James C. Palmer and Edward R. Hines, Grapevine, "Appropriations of State Tax Funds for Operating Expenses of Higher Education" — (www.coe.ilstu.edu/grapevine/). U.S. Census Bureau: State Government Finances, 1966 (1967) , 1976 (1977) , 1986 (1987) and 1996 (1997) — (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office); and "2006" (2007) — (www.census.gov).
June 2007