April 1, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Laura Lanese, President and CEO, Inter-University Council of Ohio
Phone: 614-537-3816
Email: [email protected]
The Inter-University Council of Ohio Applauds House Investment in Public Higher Education in State Operating Budget
The recently unveiled House version of the state operating budget offers a strong investment in public higher education. The inclusion of a 2% increase in State Share of Instruction (SSI) funding will enable Ohio’s 14 public universities to administer high-demand programs in fields such as healthcare, engineering, cybersecurity, and education. SSI is the primary funding mechanism for public universities in Ohio and is critical to maintaining the financial health of our universities.
The following statement may be attributed to Laura Lanese, President and CEO of the Inter-University Council of Ohio (IUC):
“The IUC wishes to thank Speaker Matt Huffman, Speaker Pro Tempore Gayle Manning, House Finance Chairman Brian Stewart, House Workforce and Higher Education Chairman Tom Young, and the many legislative leaders who recognize that higher education is a strategic investment in Ohio’s future. The proposed 2% increase in SSI funding will ensure that Ohio’s public universities remain affordable, high-quality, and accessible to all students.
Well-funded public universities strengthen Ohio’s economy, enhance national security, develop a highly skilled workforce, foster world-class research, and promote a well-educated citizenry. This investment will safeguard Ohio from falling behind states like Florida and Texas who are aggressively funding higher education to attract business, talent, and research opportunities.
We look forward to continuing to work with House and Senate leadership, as well as the DeWine administration, to keep Ohio’s public universities appropriately funded and well positioned to deliver a return on investment that will make all Ohioans proud.”
To underscore the economic importance of Ohio’s public universities, IUC commissioned an economic impact study in 2023. The study found that Ohio’s 14 state institutions of higher
education delivered $68.9 billion in total economic impact in FY 2021-2022. The impact represents 8.8% of Ohio’s total gross state economic product. The study also found that the state’s return on investment in public higher education results in $4.60 for every dollar invested. The study may be read in its entirety here.
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The Inter-University Council is a voluntary educational association of Ohio’s public universities