Illinois Public Opinion of Public Higher Education Value and Need Highlights the Urgency for Funding Transformation

Illinois is standing on the edge of transformation. For decades, we’ve watched the slow erosion of our public higher education system in the form of climbing tuition, diminishing student supports, and evaporating opportunities, with college slipping further and further out of reach for too many. But now, Illinois has a choice. SB13, the Adequate and Equitable Funding for Public Universities Act, offers an opportunity to rebuild trust, repair damage, and strengthen higher education as a public good worthy of public investment. It is clear that though our investment in higher education has eroded, public trust in the value of college has not. Illinoisans are done with the status quo.

In a recent report, the bipartistan, nonprofit research organization Public Agenda shares survey results on Illinoisians’ views on higher education. The Public Agenda survey makes one thing clear: Illinoisans believe state investments in public higher education are a sound investment. In fact, 74% of Illinoisans support increasing state funding in public colleges and universities. What’s more, nearly 70% of respondents support an equitable distribution of funding in order to support students from underrepresented backgrounds. Yet, though Illinoisans believe in the promise of college, we are skeptical of its accessibility for rural students, underrepresented minorities, adult learners, and first generation students. A full 61% of residents believe access to higher education is too limited. This lack of access is not inevitable—it’s the result of policy choices. SB13 is the policy correction Illinois needs. At its core, SB13 recognizes that “how” we fund our universities is just as important as “if” we fund them. It replaces outdated funding systems with an approach grounded in student needs and institutional mission. This means directing more resources to universities that serve large numbers of students who are low-income, first-generation, from rural communities, or adult learners. If Illinoisans take postsecondary accessibility seriously, so too should our public leaders. SB13 shows us how to invest in universities and repair postsecondary accessibility for all.

The Public Agenda report also shows us that support for higher education funding in Illinois isn’t a partisan issue—it’s a public consensus. Across every partisan identity, Illinoisans believe that our state should increase our investments in public higher education, whether they are Democrats (79%), Republicans (59%), or independents (69%). Illinoisans want equitable investments and equitable opportunity across the board. SB13 delivers both.

While the Public Agenda report tells us valuable information on public views on higher education investment, perhaps its most important insight is how the survey surfaces the cost of our disinvestment for the last two decades. Among Illinois residents who don’t have a college degree and aren’t currently enrolled, 56% said they wanted to pursue higher education but couldn’t afford to. What’s more, nearly half feel they’ve been held back in their careers because of it. These are not abstract statistics—they are the real-life consequences of neglecting affordability and access. SB13 is an opportunity to rectify structural neglect that has gone unresolved for too long, denying far too many people the opportunity for professional and financial stability.

Illinois stands at a defining moment. After decades of chronic disinvestment in our public colleges and universities—especially compared to our neighboring states—we finally have a chance to correct course. The public consensus is in: Illinoisans want bold, equitable investment in higher education. The policy is here: SB 13 shows us how to fund our universities adequately, equitably, and sustainably. The mandate is clear: Pass SB 13 and fund our state’s future. The time to act is now.

**EVENT**

As Illinois public universities confront declining overall enrollment, high college costs that impact student access, and significant racial and geographic disparities in educational attainment, findings from the non-partisan non-profit organization Public Agenda’s Who Gets to Learn: Illinoisans Views on Public Higher Education report offer encouraging signs for Illinois’ 12 public universities, with strong public support for enhancing access and affordability. 

On Monday, May 19, join Public Agenda for “Research Briefing: Illinoisans Views on Public Higher Education” as they share new research on how Illinois residents view public higher education, as well as their opinions around various funding policies.

Research Briefing: Illinoisans’ Views on Public Higher Education

Monday, May 19, 2025

12PM-1PM CT on ZOOM

Register today