Overall, total expenses in constant 2020–21 dollars for U.S. postsecondary institutions in 2019–20 were 2 percent higher than in 2018–19 ($671 billion vs. $657 billion), which was similar to the difference between 2018–19 and 2017–18 ($657 billion vs. $642 billion).
In 2019–20, U.S.1 degree-granting postsecondary institutions spent $671 billion (in constant 2020–21 dollars).2 Total expenses were $430 billion at public institutions, $228 billion at private nonprofit institutions, and $13 billion at private for-profit institutions. These data include any changes in expenses that may have occurred due to the coronavirus pandemic in the spring of 2020. For instance, disruptions to on-campus housing early in the pandemic3 or demands on hospital services could impact these data. Overall, total expenses for postsecondary institutions in the United States in 2019–20 were 2 percent higher than in 2018–19 ($671 billion vs. $657 billion), which was similar to the difference between 2018–19 and 2017–18 ($657 billion vs. $642 billion).
Some data on postsecondary expenses may not be comparable across institutions by control categories (i.e., public, private nonprofit, and private for-profit) because of differences in accounting standards. Comparisons by level of institution (i.e., between 2-year and 4-year institutions) may also be limited because of different institutional missions. Two-year institutions generally focus on providing student instruction and related activities through a range of career-oriented programs at the certificate and associate’s degree levels and preparing students to transfer to 4-year institutions. Four-year institutions tend to have a broad range of instructional programs at the undergraduate level, leading to bachelor’s degrees, and many offer graduate-level programs as well. Research activities, on-campus student housing, teaching hospitals, and auxiliary enterprises4 can also have a substantial impact on the financial structure of 4-year institutions. In this indicator, expenses are grouped into the following broad categories: instruction5; research and public service6; academic support, student services, and institutional support7; auxiliary enterprises; net grant aid to students8; hospital services9; independent operations10; and other.11
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NOTE: Data are for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Full-time-equivalent (FTE) students include full-time students plus the full-time equivalent of part-time students. Expenses per FTE student in this indicator are adjusted for inflation using constant 2020–21 dollars, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, adjusted to a school-year basis. Degree-granting institutions grant associate's or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Spring 2021, Finance component; and Spring 2020, Fall Enrollment component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2021, tables 334.10, 334.30, 334.50.
† Not applicable.
# Rounds to zero.
1 Independent operations are expenses associated with operations that are independent of or unrelated to the primary mission of the institution, although they may contribute indirectly to the enhancement of these programs. This category is generally limited to expenses of a major federally funded research and development center. Expenses related to operations owned and managed as investments of the institution's endowment funds are excluded. Expenses for independent operations are not applicable for for-profit institutions.
2 Other expenses, for private nonprofit and for-profit institutions, are the sum of operating and nonoperating expenses not classified as salaries and wages, benefits, operation and maintenance of plant, interest, or depreciation.
3 Expenses associated with a hospital operated by the postsecondary institution and reported as a part of the institution. They include nursing expenses, other professional services, general services, administrative services, and fiscal services
4 For public institutions, net grant aid to students includes scholarship and fellowship expenses, net of discounts and allowances. It excludes the amount of discounts and allowances that were recorded as a reduction to revenues from tuition, fees, and auxiliary enterprises, such as room, board, and books. For private nonprofit and private for-profit institutions, excludes tuition, fees, and auxiliary enterprise allowances and agency transactions, such as student awards made from contributed funds or grant funds. These exclusions account for the majority of total student grants.
5 Auxiliary enterprises, such as residence halls and food services, are essentially self-supporting operations of institutions that furnish a service to students, faculty, or staff, such as residence halls and food services.
6 “Academic support” includes activities and services that support the institution's primary mission of instruction, research, and public service. “Student services” includes admissions, registrar activities, and activities whose primary purpose is to contribute to students' emotional and physical well-being and to their intellectual, cultural, and social development outside the context of the formal instructional program. Intercollegiate athletics and student health services may also be included except when operated as self-supporting auxiliary enterprises. “Institutional support” includes expenses for the day-to-day operational support of the institution.
7 “Research” includes activities specifically organized to produce research outcomes and commissioned by an agency either external to the institution or separately budgeted by an organizational unit within the institution. “Public service” includes activities established primarily to provide noninstructional services beneficial to individuals and groups external to the institution. Includes expenses for community services, cooperative extension services, and public broadcasting services.
8 Expenses related to colleges, schools, departments, and other instructional divisions of the institution and expenses for departmental research and public service that are not separately budgeted. Includes expenses for both credit and non-credit activities. Excludes expenses for academic administration where the primary function is administration.
NOTE: Data are for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Degree-granting institutions grant associate's or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. Although rounded numbers are displayed, the figures are based on unrounded data. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Spring 2021, Finance component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2021, tables 334.10, 334.30, and 334.50.
NOTE: Data are for the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Full-time-equivalent (FTE) students include full-time students plus the full-time equivalent of part-time students. Expenses per FTE student in this indicator are adjusted for inflation using constant 2020–21 dollars, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, adjusted to a school-year basis. Degree-granting institutions grant associate's or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Spring 2011 and Spring 2021, Finance component; and Spring 2010 and Spring 2020, Fall Enrollment component. See Digest of Education Statistics 2021, tables 334.10, 334.30, and 334.50.
1 Data in this indicator represent the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
2 Expenses in this indicator are adjusted for inflation using constant 2020–21 dollars, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), prepared by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, adjusted to a school-year basis.
3 According to the 2019–20 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:20), 27.5 percent of undergraduates experienced housing disruption or change, including 22.0 percent who moved back to their permanent address in spring 2020.
4 Auxiliary enterprises are essentially self-supporting operations of institutions that furnish a service to students, faculty, or staff, such as residence halls and food services.
5 Expenses related to colleges, schools, departments, and other instructional divisions of the institution and expenses for departmental research and public service that are not separately budgeted. Includes expenses for both credit and noncredit activities. Excludes expenses for academic administration where the primary function is administration.
6 “Research” includes activities specifically organized to produce research outcomes and commissioned by an agency either external to the institution or separately budgeted by an organizational unit within the institution. “Public service” includes activities established primarily to provide noninstructional services beneficial to individuals and groups external to the institution. Includes expenses for community services, cooperative extension services, and public broadcasting services.
7 “Academic support” includes activities and services that support the institution’s primary mission of instruction, research, and public service. “Student services” includes admissions, registrar activities, and activities whose primary purpose is to contribute to students’ emotional and physical well-being and to their intellectual, cultural, and social development outside the context of the formal instructional program. Intercollegiate athletics and student health services may also be included except when operated as self-supporting auxiliary enterprises. “Institutional support” includes expenses for the day-to-day operational support of the institution.
8 For public institutions, net grant aid to students includes scholarship and fellowship expenses, net of discounts and allowances. It excludes the amount of discounts and allowances that were recorded as a reduction to revenues from tuition, fees, and auxiliary enterprises, such as room, board, and books. For private nonprofit and private for-profit institutions, excludes tuition, fees, and auxiliary enterprise allowances and agency transactions, such as student awards made from contributed funds or grant funds. These exclusions account for the majority of total student grants.
9 Expenses associated with a hospital operated by the postsecondary institution and reported as a part of the institution. They include nursing expenses, other professional services, general services, administrative services, and fiscal services.
10 Independent operations are expenses associated with operations that are independent of or unrelated to the primary mission of the institution, although they may contribute indirectly to the enhancement of these programs. This category is generally limited to expenses of a major federally funded research and development center. Expenses related to operations owned and managed as investments of the institution’s endowment funds are excluded. Expenses for independent operations are not applicable for for-profit institutions.
11 Other expenses are the sum of operating and nonoperating expenses not classified as salaries and wages, benefits, operation and maintenance of plant, interest, or depreciation. For private for-profit institutions, expenses associated with hospital services are included in the “other” category.