Colleges’ Revenue and Expenditures, by Sector, FY 2016

For-profit institutions are by far the most tuition-dependent sector, relying on that money for about 90 percent of overall revenue. Four-year private nonprofit institutions relied on tuition for nearly 40 percent of their revenue, and four-year public institutions for under 23 percent. Two-year public institutions spent on instruction nearly two and a half times what they collected in tuition and fees, and four-year private nonprofit colleges devoted almost 84 percent of the amount of revenue they got from tuition and fees to instruction. Two-year and four-year private nonprofit institutions were the only sectors in which total expenses exceeded total revenue in the 2016 fiscal year.

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4-year public institutions (684 colleges)

4-year private nonprofit institutions (1,529 colleges)

4-year private for-profit institutions (498 colleges)

2-year public institutions (880 colleges)

2-year private nonprofit institutions (93 colleges)

2-year private for-profit institutions (513 colleges)

Note: Data are based on degree-granting institutions in the United States that receive Title IV federal student aid. Because revenue and expenditure categories would not be comparable, the table excludes 11 four-year public institutions and three two-year public institutions that use an accounting method different from that of other public institutions. The 11 omitted four-year institutions, which include Pennsylvania State University at University Park, Temple University, and the University of Pittsburgh, together reported $3.5 billion in tuition and fees and $11.8 billion in total revenue for the 2016 fiscal year, along with $11.7 billion in expenditures. In this table, the figures for tuition and fees, which exclude room and board, are net after discounts and allowances. Federal nonoperating grants include Pell Grants. Expenditures for instruction, research, public service, academic and institutional support, and student services include wages and benefits to employees in those areas. “Student services” include admissions, financial-aid administration, career guidance, and student activities. “Educational activities” include sales of goods and services incidental to instruction, like film rentals, scientific and literary publications, and testing services. “Auxiliary enterprises” include residence halls, food services, employee parking, student unions, and college stores. Appropriations, gifts, grants, and other revenues are counted for the current year regardless of whether their use is restricted. Percentages have been rounded. Questions or comments on the Almanac should be sent to the Almanac editor.

Source: Chronicle analysis of U.S. Department of Education data