December 19, 2003

State Appropriations: Still Scarce, but Better Budgets May Be Near

By SARA HEBEL

Graphic: Growth in State Aid Slows

Related articles: Financial Outlook 2004By SARA HEBEL

State money for higher education will be the tightest it has been in more than a decade during the first half of 2004, but some states may be able to loosen their purse strings later in the calendar year.

Over all, state aid for colleges will probably decrease slightly from last year, says James C. Palmer, a professor of higher