Higher Education Finance

Catalog description

The purpose of this course is to understand the concepts related to Higher Education Finance and it's impact upon the Higher Education system in the United States. The course will provide an introductory examination of financial, economic, and budgetary issues within higher education. Focusing on not-for-profit postsecondary schools, students will review the primary political, economic, and social issues influencing higher education finance, examine revenue streams and expenditure patterns, survey tuition and financial aid policies, develop the ability to examine and analyze financial information, and assess the budget as an instrument of strategic planning, resource allocation, and control. The course is grounded in literature, theories, and examples specific to higher education. The goal is to provide students with the knowledge and abilities that empower them to make appropriate decisions as higher education leaders. Course Goals: This course aims at a working understanding of the economics of higher education finance. Thus, students at the end of the course should be able to: 1) Understand key economic concepts bearing on higher education finance in the United States and abroad; 2) Understand the logic of financial decisions in higher education; and 3) Apply such concepts and logic to various finance projects of their choosing.