Lobbying by universities and colleges

Recent Trends in Lobbying for America's Colleges and Universities

A study conducted through 2006, showed an enormous increase in spending of the education lobbying industry over only the past few years.

• Those with a direct interest in higher education have spent more than ninety-million dollars on lobbying members of Congress and top executive branch officials.

• 336 private, non-profit colleges increased their spending to $34.7 million, (nearly $10 million more than the prior year.) Johns Hopkins University was the top spender, with $1,020,000 - followed by Boston University, spending $920,000 in 2006.

• 265 public, 4-year colleges and universities increased their spending to a staggering $35.7 million, an increase of more than $4 million. Two of the biggest state universities in the country spent the most, with California schools edging out the State University of New York (S.U.N.Y.) systems.

• 80 community colleges spent a little over $4 million.

• Other "big-spenders" include; for-profit institutions (led by the Apollo Group with $615,000,) higher education associations (led by the American Council on Education with $640,000,) and student loan entities (like Sallie Mae, spending an astounding $1.46 million.)

Higher education is a big business, and those with stake in it have spent $94.6 million to preserve their interests.

Articles and Resources

Resources

• Online databases from a project of the Center for Responsive Politics:
  • Profile of education industry lobbying.
  • Profile of education industry campaign contributions.

Articles

• Doug Lederman, "Anti-Lobbying Fever? Not in Higher Ed," Inside Higher Ed, December 21, 2006.

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