By Mike Abrahamson – Director of Policy and Research
In his prior presentations, Governor JB Pritzker used his annual State of the State and Budget Address to be a champion of higher education in a way the state hadn’t seen before his tenure. We know that the budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 comes at a very difficult time, and there are no easy fiscal decisions to make. However, we were disappointed to hear the proposal of zero funding increases to student aid and a mere 1% increase to public colleges and universities, effectively cutting their budget when adjusted for inflation. This proposal threatens the improvements in college affordability, access, and completion that Governor Pritzker cited in his address.
Of Illinois’ 12 universities, 11 have less than 63% of the resources needed to serve their students. Without the necessary funds, some institutions are navigating impossible budget situations that threaten layoffs, and even possible closure. This budget proposal presented on Wednesday would make these problems worse. Although the administration is framing this as a 1% increase, the projected inflation of 3.2% would mean an effective 2.2% cut to colleges and universities. And with no funding increase to the Monetary Award Program (MAP)—which due to underfunding had to deny aid to 38,000 students last year—Illinois can expect even more eligible students to be denied state aid.
Absent bold proposals for collecting and spending new revenue, the governor could have used this address to support priorities that catalyze our education system and help equitably get students to and through college. For example, a marginal $1.4 million would expand education for incarcerated students by 50%, reducing recidivism and giving many Illinoisans a needed second chance. Additionally, increasing the budget for MAP would ensure each financially-eligible student would receive aid to go to college. And, raising revenue to fund a new formula for public universities would transform Illinois into the economic powerhouse of the country.
Investing in Students is Fiscally Responsible
In his address, Governor Pritzker celebrated 10-year highs in enrollment at our public universities, citing investments to make college more affordable. While Illinois has made strides restoring college access, the proposed cuts to institutions would mean less resources to support those additional students to completion. Ultimately, budget cuts for already struggling institutions mean more layoffs, slashed programs, and fewer opportunities for students to realize the promises of a college degree.
The governor’s office sets the current challenging, unpredictable times as rationale for this belt-tightening. There is no debate that we are facing attacks on our budget from the federal level, but higher education has already been made to absorb too much of the impact of federal disinvestment. Colleges and universities have seen the elimination of funding for minority serving institutions, the hamstringing of crucial basic needs programs, and the reprogramming of important student success funds. This is more of a reason–not less–to invest in higher education, and there is an alternative to fiscal austerity. Illinois has the 8th most regressive tax structure in the country, and there are many viable proposals for ensuring the wealthiest pay their fair share. The governor’s office highlighted a few moderate revenue increases in his budget proposal, and while we support these as a starting point, we must be bolder to gain the revenue we need to support our students.
In this address, we heard about the importance of “prudence” in responsible spending and overcoming fiscal missteps of past decades. Of this $55 billion budget, there is room for a proposed $176 million to be added to the Rainy Day Fund. PCC commends fiscal responsibility, but this is not the time to add to the Rainy Day Fund – today is the rainy day – and we can find enough for modest increases to support colleges and their students.
It is not fiscally responsible to balance our budget on the backs of our college students. Fewer college graduates means our state will have less revenue and greater costs in the future. Illinois has an unfortunate history of borrowing against our future for immediate budget needs. Failing to adequately fund higher education would continue this trend, diminishing the governor’s own record of turning that history around, and instead putting college further out of reach for Illinois students. The governor didn’t mince words when he said that “college is too damned expensive,” and we find it fair to ask for a budget that makes it more affordable.
We recognize Governor Pritzker’s previous commitments to affordable and high-quality postsecondary education, but we reaffirm that now is the time for bold investment in the future of our students and state.