Arizona ranks 46th in the country for state support of higher education. That’s according to the latest report from State Higher Education Finance, which looks at trends in higher education revenues.
Now the Arizona Board of Regents is requesting $732.2 million in state funding for Arizona’s three public universities.
Arizona’s universities are facing a $96.9 million reduction in state appropriations from fiscal year 2025. Arizona State University recently announced it was making several changes, including closing its Lake Havasu center, due to the impact of state cuts.
ABOR’s Fred DuVal said their budget request asks for the state to restore the budget cuts and make substantial investments. He added that it’s not a partisan issue.
“States as conservative as Oklahoma and Wyoming are making major investments and liberal states are making investments,” DuVal said, “and Arizona, if it wants to compete in the 21st century, has got to create more degree completions in order to provide the workforce for the 21st century economy.”
He said the board wants the state to invest in programs like the AZ Healthy Tomorrow initiative, to expand healthcare education programs.
“Our citizens have a set of needs for which the universities are the answer,” DuVal said. “Over 1,000 K-12 classrooms this fall lacked a credentialed teacher and yet we have students on our unfunded waiting list for the Arizona Teachers Academy, which is of course, crazy. We should be funding the Teachers Academy.”
The regents are also seeking funds to increase affordability and access for Arizona students.
