What expenses do COLLEGES have?

Paying for College
1

<p>So this is a weird question.</p>

<p>I maintain a fairly successful blog and I’m preparing to write and publish a post about how much money colleges have and what they do with it. IE, American University has 6042 undergrads paying $32,816 per year in tuition and $467 per year in fees, so they have $201,095,886 in revenue per year - where does this money go?</p>

<p>So far all I can come up with is:</p>

<p>Professors’ salaries
Admissions counselors’ salaries
Receptionists’ & filing clerks’ salaries
Librarians’ salaries
Janitorial/groundskeeping personnel’s salaries
Grounds upkeep expenses
Laboratory expenses, ie the cost of chemicals and lab equipment
Property taxes</p>

<p>I know I must be missing a LOT of items. What else is there?</p>

2

<p>Building Maintenance
Custodial Services
Utilities
Landscape and Grounds Maintenance
Major Repairs and Renovations
Safety & Security
Operation & Maintenance Information Technology
New Technology
Insurance
New Construction</p>

3

<p>Office Materials (Printing Papers, Inks, etc)
Furnitures and Fixtures</p>

4

<p>Actually if you google “‘college name’ budget” you may find a budget listing how the money is spent.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.american.edu/finance/budget/pdf_files/FY07Sched.pdf[/url]”>http://www.american.edu/finance/budget/pdf_files/FY07Sched.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>generally colleges and universities are exempt from property taxes.</p>

6

<p>A few more:</p>

<p>library books and other media such as journal subscriptions
personnel benefits (health care, employer taxes, other benefits)
athletic equipment/fitness centers
career center
legal, accounting and consulting contracts</p>

<p>I am guessing that some areas such as food service, health center and on-campus museums might be self-supporting and independent. But I’m not sure about that.</p>

7

<p>daughters school gave every staff member from dorm housekeepers to profs a stipend to be spent on student interaction.
( they did)
She met with a organizational coach every week- , she also participated in an ADD group, which I assume the staff person received a stipend for.
Her school didn’t have a football team- but I think at some schools the football coach may be paid more than the governor ( although the salary may be supported by alumni funds)</p>

<p>My community college gives $300 a year to each club/student group, many universities do the same.</p>

<p>And don’t forget the cost of maintaining web sites, and mailing all that paper to prospective students and dvds!</p>

8

<p>Thanks so much, everyone!!! I really appreciate it! :)</p>