The fate of the Department of Education may appear murky since the 2024 election. But there were plenty of other ballot results that will have a clearer impact on higher education systems in several states, including new streams of funding and expanded scholarships.
Here’s an overview of how voters are supporting your colleagues in higher ed, with 2024 election results from election tracker Ballotpedia:
Arizona
Voters raised the spending limit for the state’s—and nation’s—largest community college system. The Maricopa County Community College District—a system of 10 institutions that now offers some baccalaureate degree programs—will see its spending cap double, to $902 million from $451 million, according to AZCentral.com.
Arkansas
Arkansas voters overwhelmingly supported allowing lottery proceeds to fund scholarships and grants for vocational and technical schools. Previously, the funds, about $20 million annually, had only been available to students at two- and four-year colleges and universities, according to the Arkansas Advocate.
California
Community colleges in California also got clear support from voters, who approved $10 billion in bonds to fund construction and modernization of public education facilities.
New Mexico
Two-thirds of voters said “yes” to capital improvements in public higher ed and K12 schools. Officials can now begin issuing $230.26 million in bonds to fund capital improvements and acquisitions at state colleges and universities, special public schools, and tribal schools.
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Nevada
Nevada voters defeated a constitutional amendment that would have given the state’s legislature more power over the Board of Regents for higher ed, according to the Reno Gazette Journal. A yes vote would have removed the Board of Regents’ constitutional status and allowed legislators to manage state universities, according to The New York Times.
Rhode Island
Higher ed facilities are now in line for $160.5 million in bond funding for upgrades. About $87.5 million will fund a new biomedical sciences building at the University of Rhode Island and $73 million will pay for renovations at the Rhode Island College Institute of Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies.
Utah
Voters overwhelmingly supported increasing distributions from the State School Fund for public education from 4% to 5%.
