State Appropriations for Higher Education See Biggest Jump in Decades

By JEAN EVANGELAUF

State-tax support for higher education climbed 7.5 percent in the 2007-8 budget year, to $77.5-billion, according to a national survey released last week. It was the highest annual increase since 1985.

The increase marks the fourth year of growth following a 2.1-percent downturn in the 2003-4...