* From the Partnership for College Completion on the governor’s proposed budget…
In his prior presentations, Governor J.B. 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.
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.
Emphasis is in the original.
* I asked the governor’s office for a response…
Governor Pritzker’s historic record of investments and prioritizations in higher education continues in this year’s budget proposal, reflecting a responsible, values-driven approach during a period of genuine fiscal constraint. A 1% increase in higher education funding is an increase — not a cut. The Monetary Award Program continues to be funded with $721.6 million included in this year’s budget, an 80% increase for the program since 2019.
In a constrained fiscal environment caused solely by the federal government’s chaos, Illinois is holding the line by reflecting fiscal responsibility and putting our students and families first.
Emphasis added.
This is the second straight year that Pritzker has proposed a 1 percent higher ed increase.
Thoughts?
- DuPage Moderate - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 8:48 am:
I guess we need more and will see more Chinese Nationals in Champaign-Urbana.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 9:11 am:
A 1% increase is an admission that things are very bad right now and the state can’t afford to do more. Sad but true.
Also- I would encourage the Partnership for College Completion to identify cuts to other items in the state budget that would enable universities the level of funding they are recommending.
- Irreverent - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 9:12 am:
Where is the money for a meaningful increase supposed to come from? I’m “disappointed” every day I don’t get a free pony. Last I heard, were already facing a deficit and maintaining our status as a donor state. Ideally we’d just send less money to red states and take care of ourselves instead, but we all know better than to expect fiscal responsibility from those places. So what actually is the ask here? For the state to take on more debt? Defund DCFS and use their money elsewhere? Does anyone have an actual solution, or is it just hands sticking out?
- Loyal Opposition - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 9:12 am:
Our state budget-making process is fundamentally broken, no matter who is in charge.
Back-to-back 1% increases are not a coincidence. They are designed for politicians to be able to go to Champaign, Bloomington, and Carbondale and say “I increased funding for higher education.”
At the same time, it is intended to silence university presidents, mayors of university towns, and university labor unions.
The implicit threat is “Next year the governor could chose to zero you out.”
The governor faces no serious challenges from the Republican Party. The governor faces no serious opposition from within the Democratic Party. Soon, it appears he will have his former campaign staffer installed as Comptroller and “watchdog” over his budget practices.
It’s hard for Democrats to complain with a straight face that members of the Republican Congress need to stand up to the President, when Illinois Democrats are afraid to criticize Pritzker, and anyone who does is primaried and/or driven from office and replaced with someone more “compliant.”
The framers of the U.S. Constitution and Illinois Constitution wanted co-equal branches for a reason.
No one can claim with a straight face that the Illinois legislature and the governor are functioning as co-equal branches at this point.
- Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 9:30 am:
If Illinois received back all the money it pays in federal taxes, there would be plenty of money to go around… but we don’t. Now federal funding is being arbitrarily cut for political reasons, further widening the gap between what we pay in versus what comes back to the state. The same is true for New York state. I support continuing to pay down pension obligations, as this Gov has prioritized.
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 9:31 am:
- Illinois Democrats are afraid to criticize Pritzker, and anyone who does is primaried and/or driven from office and replaced with someone more “compliant.” -
Name one.
- Think Again - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 9:32 am:
= a mere 1% increase to public colleges =
These public universities employ some of the smartest minds- they are not ingonant to the current political/economic environment - have they stepped up efforts to bolster endowment and private giving? The impacts will be felt in different ways. As of 2025, U of I had a $3.06 Billion endowmwnt fund.
- Steve - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 9:35 am:
An increase in the budget is an increase in the budget even if it’s below the inflation rate. Illinois higher education spending has pushed some students to go out of state to get a better deal. Choices have to made. If they don’t want to raise tuition or cut some campuses, it is what it is. The dropping of the birth rate the last 18 years isn’t helping matters.
- May soon be required - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 9:36 am:
==I guess we need more and will see more Chinese Nationals in Champaign-Urbana.==
How is this the takeaway?
- Steve - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 9:53 am:
-How is this the takeaway?-
Foreign students play a very important role in financing Champaign-Urbana. Out of country tuition is much higher than in state tuition. Anyway, these aren’t easy questions. Illinois taxpayers subsidize a world class institution. An institution so great most high school graduates can’t attend there. If you don’t let 6000 Chinese students in 1) you can raise tuition or 2) give Champain more money or 3) make cuts somewhere.
- low level - Tuesday, Feb 24, 26 @ 9:55 am:
==No one can claim with a straight face that the Illinois legislature and the governor are functioning as co-equal branches at this point.==
Wrong again. The IL Legislature and Governor are the only ones behaving in a responsible manner. The GOP lead Congress and president certainly aren’t.