Dive Summary:

• The State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) released its State Higher Education Finance Report, which tracks the reduction of state funding for public universities and colleges.
• The report spotlights the fact that per-student spending hit a 25-year low in 2012, with states shelling out an average of $5,896 per student, which is almost $3,000 less than per-student spending in 2001. 
• The report revealed another troubling pattern: net tuition revenue now accounts for 47% of public higher-ed expenses compared to only 23.3% in 1987. 

From the article:

"... Paul E. Lingenfelter, the president of the State Higher Education Executive Officers, said the drop in state support was 'unprecedented.'

'The depth of the 2008 recession and the economy's slow recovery are reflected in the funding, enrollment and net tuition numbers for 2012,' Lingenfelter said. 'Tuition revenues are up substantially due to higher prices and more enrollments, but not enough to offset losses of public funding. Students are paying more while public institutions are receiving substantially less money to educate them.' ..."