The state budget proposed today by Gov. JB Pritzker would provide a 1% increase in state-appropriated general operating funds for the University of Illinois System.
If approved by the General Assembly and signed into law, the governor’s proposed budget would increase the system’s general funds appropriation to $736.5 million for the coming fiscal year.
The proposal, made during a challenging economic period, would continue the vital reinvestment in public higher education prioritized by our state and Gov. Pritzker in recent years, U of I System President Tim Killeen said.
“Governor Pritzker has consistently increased the state budget for higher education each year of his administration and I appreciate his continued recognition of public higher education as a public good that strengthens our entire state,” Killeen said. “The University of Illinois System is one of Illinois’ most powerful economic engines, producing a world-class talent pipeline, driving research and innovation, and preparing the next generation of leaders. Thanks to the state’s continued investment, we have been able to keep tuition increases below inflation, grow free tuition programs at all three universities and enroll more Illinois students across the University of Illinois System.”
“Over the coming weeks, we look forward to working with Governor Pritzker and our state representatives and senators to make certain that this investment remains a priority in our state budget,” Killeen added.
Gov. Pritzker’s proposed budget would keep unchanged the state’s $721.6 million funding of Illinois’ Monetary Award Program, the state’s primary vehicle for providing financial aid to college students.
Over 22,000 U of I System students rely on MAP grants.
“MAP is crucial for many of our in-state students and a great investment the state makes in its future,” Killeen said. “About 80% of our undergraduates come from Illinois, and 70% of our students make lives here when they graduate.”
The U of I System provides over $318 million of its own institutional financial aid to undergraduate students a year. Combined with state and federal aid, this commitment allows a third of system undergraduates to pay no tuition or fees. And more than half of all in-state undergraduate students enrolled across the system pay less than $3,000 a semester.
As a result, U of I System students consistently graduate with less debt than national averages.
More than half of the Illinois students enrolled in public four-year universities attend one of the three U of I System universities, just over 101,000 in all.
