The Alabama Commission on Higher Education voted late last week to request a substantial increase of $145 million to next year’s budget for two and four-year colleges within the state. Other programs deemed to be related to higher education are also included in the budget.
The request represents a 6% jump from this year’s budget and would make $2.56 billion available for the upcoming year. Per the proposal from the commission, two-year colleges would be given $485 million, while four-year universities would receive $1.8 billion.
Additionally, in a separate request, members of the body asked for $77.9 million for the agency and related programs for FY 2026.
- STEM teacher recruitment through the UTeach program-$1 million in increased funding
- The Alabama Student Assistance Program, the Alabama Student Grant Program, and the Alabama National Guard Scholarship Program-$500,000 for each of the three student financial assistance programs, for a cumulative total of $1.5 million
- (Re)Engage Alabama initiative– $2 million for adults with some college credit who want to return to complete their degrees
- The Network of Alabama Academic Libraries– $200,000 to expand materials focusing on workforce and economic development
- Hunger-Free Campus Initiative-$200,000 to expand access to healthy foods for college students
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities Consortium– $650,000 increase
- Alabama Literacy and Numeracy Initiative-$100,000 to support teacher preparation programs aligned with the requirements of the Alabama Literacy and Numeracy Acts
- Alabama Special Education Rural Teacher Scholarship-$250,000 to establish a scholarship for rural students pursuing education degrees
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
