SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — State lawmakers and advocates are renewing their calls for an evidence-based funding formula for Illinois public colleges and universities.
Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) and Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood) are leading the effort to shake up the funding process for the state's 12 public universities, as they argue funding should be based on the needs of each college.
Advocates said investing at least $135 million in public universities over the next decade could help shift the burden of college costs away from students and families.
"Illinois has some of the highest public university and fee rates in the nation while simultaneously experiencing the steepest enrollment declines than any state in the nation," Ammons said.
The proposed formula would account for the size of institutions, the academic programs they offer and the socioeconomic, racial and geographic diversity of each university. Sponsors said these variables can be used to calculate adequacy targets to ensure each college can meet the needs of its students.
Leaders from the University of Illinois System have strongly opposed the idea. They argue the plan risks undermining the affordability, stability and long-term competitiveness of the state.
Sponsors hope the University of Illinois System will reach an agreement on amendments for the bill. Lightford is also optimistic that Gov. JB Pritzker will include the new funding model as a top priority for the Fiscal Year 2027 budget.
"We all know we're going through hard times, but this is a drastic and dire need," Lightford said. "We are already making investments into higher education. We just need that investment to rise above to support the formula and do so within a 10-year period."
Senate Bill 13 was reassigned to the Senate Executive Committee on Jan. 27. The House version of this plan was reassigned to the House Appropriations Higher Education Committee on Feb. 11.
"Adopting the Adequate and Equitable Formula is essential for students' success," said Young Invincibles Midwest Regional Director Erick Deshaun Dorris. "This will ensure that institutions statewide can serve their student populations according to their unique needs and address the higher education funding gap."
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