This course examines the foundations of higher education finance and funding with particular attention to structures of stratification and (in)equality. We will consider the postsecondary funding ecosystem holistically to understand federal (e.g., student aid, research grants), state (e.g., public per-student appropriations), private (e.g., foundations, alumni giving), and local (e.g., contracts) funding streams and mechanisms and the public policy landscape and beliefs about higher education that shape them. By the end of the course, students will have a solid understanding of the current state of higher education funding and finance, the implications for local economies, equitable educational attainment, and intergenerational wealth that can inform student interests ranging from policy to institutional to student-level concerns.
Credits: 3.0