In The New York Times, Tamar Lewin writes about how tuition payments are exceeding state appropriations, and some of the possible consequences foreseen by higher education professionals. Examples in this article focus on California and South Caroline.

Scott Pattison, executive director of the National Association of State Budget Officers:

“The difference between this downturn and others in the past is that this time I don’t think higher education will be able to recover the ground it’s lost,” said Scott Pattison, executive director of the National Association of State Budget Officers. “I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t see that money coming back. And with tuition already out of reach for many folks, I don’t think there’s much ability to keep raising it.”

Mark Yudoff, president of the University of California system:

“If approved, this budget will mean that for the first time in our long history, tuition paid by University of California students and their families will exceed the state’s contribution to the core fund,” Mark Yudof, the president of the University of California system, told the Board of Regents. “For those who believe what we provide is a public good, not a private one, this is a sad threshold to cross.”