John Cullerton and Jason Barickman: Illinois higher education is poised to win big

Chicago Tribune

08-05-2025

Having both served in the state legislature — albeit on opposite sides of the aisle and from different parts of Illinois — we share a belief in the power of education to lift individuals, communities and the state as a whole. We worked together to help pass the evidence-based funding, or EBF, formula that transformed the way in which we fund our school districts, and we have seen how that fundamental reform has reshaped the K-12 landscape.
Thanks to additional General Assembly funding, districts have added badly needed positions and programs to support student learning and well-being. Because of EBF, districts have funding predictability, allowing them to plan for the future in ways that are good for students. The new formula and steadfast investment allowed Illinois to withstand the impact of COVID-19 better than the nation as a whole and to rebound with more energy. Today, Illinois is one of the top-performing states in the nation for student academic growth.
It is time to bring that same transformational effort to our public universities. Over the past 20 years, the value of a college degree has grown. Yet, during that same period, Illinois has slashed its support for public universities from roughly 15% of its revenue (matching the national average) to a mere 2%. New research from the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability finds that inflation-adjusted spending has fallen 42% since fiscal year 2000, while tuition has more than doubled. This has placed a considerable burden on low- and middle-income families, making it increasingly difficult for students to afford a higher education degree, the report says.
A recent survey of Illinois residents revealed that more than half of Democrats, independents and Republicans say the state should increase funding to public universities. When state support withers, tuition rises. That is exactly what has happened in Illinois, which now has the unwelcome distinction of being one of the least affordable places in the country to attend college. We are pricing out the next generation and depriving universities of the resources they need to serve their students well. In doing so, we are depriving Illinois of college graduates, future leaders, and the services, programs and goods that Illinois communities rely on across sectors. If we do not address this structural problem today, we will all pay the price tomorrow.
The good news is there is legislation on the table that would not only address this issue, but also do so in a way as powerful and transformational as EBF. Two bills — Senate Bill 13 filed by Sen. Kimberly Lightford and House Bill 1581 by Rep. Carol Ammons — take the best of EBF and adjust and apply core principles to the complex world of four-year colleges. Working with experts, stakeholders and university leaders, they have crafted a first-ever formula for Illinois' public universities. Better still, the proposed formula considers the resources institutions need to fulfill their mission, run effective programs, and meet the needs of students from different regions, economic and academic backgrounds, while also taking into account the resources each university can bring to bear.
For the first time, the formula allows the state to understand how well funded each university is compared with their unique needs. None of our institutions is fully funded. Some universities have 40% of what research tells us is needed to effectively serve students; others have 88%. Both bills call on the state to invest at least $135 million in new funds each year for the next 10 to 15 years to bring the system as a whole closer to full funding. Like EBF, the legislation ensures that new funding follows need: The adequate and equitable funding formula ensures that institutions furthest from adequacy receive a greater share of new dollars to help catch them up. Transparency and accountability measures will track the connection between new funding, affordability and student outcome.
The proposed new university funding formula is based on a simple, powerful principle: Let's understand what each university needs to fulfill its unique mission and serve its unique student population, then let's make sure we have a plan to get resources where they are needed. This has been a winning strategy in K-12, and we hope the General Assembly and governor will embrace this effort with the same bipartisan support and sense of purpose they brought to passing (and then funding) EBF.
In an increasingly partisan world, Illinois continues to demonstrate that we can come together to solve problems to build a strong future.