| Competing in the global marketplace requires certain specific strengths, including a well-educated workforce. State and local governments that provide the support necessary for area educational institutions to grow and thrive afford regional companies significant competitive advantages. Missouri and Kansas are home to several respected universities and colleges, both public and private. Indeed, few would argue with the assertion that our institutions of higher education are “world-class.” But are these institutions receiving sufficient support? Are they able to fulfill their mission to help keep our regional businesses and economies competitive? A review of current research and rankings results in report cards with mixed grades for both states. Highs and Lows in State Financial Support for Higher Education The Center for the Study of Education Policy at Illinois State University com-piles data annually detailing state tax support for higher education, including general fund appropriations for universities, colleges, community colleges, and state higher education agencies for all fifty states. In Fiscal Year 2006–2007, the state of Missouri appropriated $878,337,000 in state tax funds for operating expenses of higher education. This placed Missouri 27th among the fifty states in total appropriations. The state of Kansas appropriated $788,720,000, placing it 30th in total appropriations for higher education. These figures don’t mean much, however, without the con-text of historical appropriation trends and comparison to other states, adjusted for population, and other variables. For example, though Missouri appropriated more tax dollars to higher ed than did Kansas, based on 2006 data ranking states by state and local appropriations per capita the state of Kansas ranked 8th highest with $334.82 appropriated per state resident. Missouri ranked 45th, with appropriations of $168.31 per resident. Wyoming ranked 1st in this category with per capita appropriations of $521.78. New Hampshire ranked last with appropriations of $89.66 per state resident. When the 2006 data are analyzed by state and local appropriations per $1,000 of personal income in each state, Kansas ranks 11th, with $10.27 appropriated to higher education per each $1,000 earned by a Kansas resident. Missouri ranks 43rd with appropriations of $5.43 per $1,000 of personal income. New Mexico ranked first with appropriations of $14.47, and New Hampshire was 50th with appropriations of $2.39. Missouri increased its state appropriations to higher education by 23.3 percent. This increase placed Missouri 42nd among the states in the percentage increase in state higher education spending. During the same period, Kansas increased state appropriations to higher ed by 47.3 percent, ranking it 25th in percentage increase among the states. Nevada increased its spending by 150.9 percent, placing it 1st. Colorado increased its appropriations 9.9 percent, giving it a rank of 48th. (Two states’ figures were not comparable over the ten-year period, and were not included.) Compared to Other States The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, an independent non-profit non-partisan research and advocacy organization, has produced a report comparing states’ performances in a number of variables. The report, titled “Measuring Up 2006: The State Report Card on Higher Education,” does not reflect favorably on Missouri. Kansas fares better, but has no reason to boast. The report’s opening statement is critical, not of the quality of Missouri’s insitutions of higher education, but, indirectly, of the local school systems charged with preparing students for college: “Missouri’s underperformance in educating its young population could limit the state’s access to a competitive workforce and weaken its economy over time. Missouri continues to trail leading states in preparing students for higher education and enrolling them in college directly after high school. In addition, there are substantial disparities in educational achievement by ethnicity. Since the early 1990s, colleges and universities in Missouri have become less afford- able for students and their families. If these trends are not addressed, they could undermine the state’s ability to compete successfully in a global economy.” These conclusions echo the concerns expressed by lawmakers and elected officials in both political parties. The report says that, compared with other states, only 23 percent of Missouri’s 8th graders take algebra classes, and though, in general, they perform fairly well on national assessments in science and reading, the state’s 8th graders do poorly on national assessments in math and writing. Low-income 8th graders perform especially poor on national math assessments. The chance that a young Missourian will be enrolled in college by age 19 is, according to the report, 39 percent. This seems low, but in leading states the chances are only around 50 percent. However, the gap in college participation between whites and other ethnic groups is significant. The reports states that, currently, 36 percent of white young adults are enrolled in college, compared to 26 percent of young adults of other ethnic groups. About 2,250 more students are coming to Missouri to attend college than are leaving. About 16 percent of Missouri’s high school graduates who go on to college are attending college in another state. In the category of affordability, the report states that “Missouri has made no notable progress in providing affordable higher education.” To support this assertion, the report notes that in Missouri, 31 percent of an average household’s income is needed to pay for college expenses (minus financial aid) at a public four-year college or university. In leading states the figure is 16 percent. On a quite positive note, the report says that “Missouri has made substantial gains in the benefits the state receives from having a highly educated population.” This is no small achievement. It is a solid foundation upon which to build and it is worth celebrating. Compared to other states, a high proportion of Missouri’s citizens have a bachelor’s degree. Missourians also contribute substantially to the civic good, as measured by charitable giving, volunteerism, and participation in elections. The report concludes that Missouri is one of the more rapidly improving states in the percentage of residents who have a bachelor’s degree. The report also concludes that if all ethnic groups in Missouri had the same educational attainment and earnings as whites, total personal income in the state would be about $1.4 billion higher. The state of Kansas receives slightly better grades in its “report card” from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education. The Center summarizes its report on Kansas’ performance with this statement: “Kansas compares well with most states in preparing students for and en-rolling them in college. Since the early 1990s, however, the state has fallen behind in graduating 9th graders from high school within four years. Of those who do graduate, however, more now enroll in college directly after high school. Colleges and universities in Kansas have become less affordable for students and their families since the early 1990s. If Kansas’ downward trends are not addressed, they could limit the state’s access to a competitive workforce and weaken its economy over time.” The report states that, when com-pared with other states, Kansas’ eighth graders perform “very well” on national assessments in math and reading. Low-income 8th graders in the state also perform well on national assessments in math. Kansas has consistently performed “very well” on national assessments in reading over the past seven years. However, the report points out that over the past 12 years, the percentage of young adults who are from minority ethnic groups and who earned a high school diploma or GED has declined from 92 percent to 73 percent. Though the report awards Kansas high grades in overall participation, because a fairly high proportion of young adults are enrolled in higher education courses, it also reveals that the percentage of working-age adults enrolled in part-time education or training beyond high school has declined dramatically. It also shows that the gap in college participation between whites and other ethnic groups has widened substantially. Currently, 40 out of 100 white young adults are enrolled in college, as compared to 29 out of 100 young adults from other ethnic groups. On a more positive note, only about 10 percent of the adult population has less than a high school diploma or its equivalent, compared with 14 percent of adults nationwide. In Kansas, 1,720 more students enter the state than leave to attend college. About 14 percent of Kansas high school graduates who go to college attend college out of state. When compared with top-performing states, Kansas’ citizens devote a proportionately larger share of family income, even after financial aid, to paying for college. The report finds that Kansas “investment in need-based financial aid is very low when compared with top-performing states.” Over the past several years, the share of family income needed to pay for college expenses at public four-year institutions has increased from 17 percent to 26 per-cent, even after financial aid. Compared with other states, a fairly large percentage—53 percent—of full-time college students complete a bachelor’s degree within six years of enrolling in college. At four-year colleges and universities, the percentage of freshmen who return for their sophomore year is 74 percent. And, compared to other states, a very large proportion of students enrolled in higher education pro-grams complete certificates and degrees. Then, as with Missouri, the report concludes that Kansas has successfully reaped the benefits of its state higher education system. Compared to other states, a high proportion of residents have a bachelor’s degree. Kansas’ citizens are considered to contribute substantially to the civic good, as measured by charitable giving, volunteerism, and voting. However, the reports find that if all ethnic groups had the same educational attainment and earnings as whites, total personal income in the state would be about $1 billion higher. Conclusion As justifiably proud as Kansans and Missourians may be of their colleges and universities, the studies and rankings cited here indicate that, on the whole, the higher education systems in both states are neither exceptionally well-supported and effective in their missions, nor exceptionally deficient in any significant area. The two states systems may excel academically and athletically, but there are areas that require significant systemic improvement. Citizens and legislators in both states have some tough decisions to make regarding their commitment to pro-vide comprehensive, affordable, accessible education to all their citizens.
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