By Victoria Gladstone
Former Editor-in-Chief
The College may see less state funding this upcoming fiscal year than previous years, according to the current draft of the New Jersey state budget.
The proposed amount of funding for the College in fiscal year 2026 is $32.5 million, despite it requesting $84 million from the state, according to the state’s budget detail. Last year, the College received $34.4 million.
“While the governor has proposed cuts, we will be working through the legislative process to advocate for adequate investment in higher education,” said Luke Sacks, head of media relations at the College, in an email statement. He says the College will continue to “strongly advocate for additional financial support from the state.”
Changes may be made to the budget if lobbyists are able to persuade the state to provide more funding for the College.
Gov. Phil Murphy first introduced this state budget proposal during his final address at the State House on Feb. 25. The state will provide $685.2 million in funding to “ensure stability and future success” for New Jersey’s public institutions, according to the budget in brief.
Jennifer Keyes-Maloney, executive director of the New Jersey State Colleges and Universities Association and previous lobbyist for the College, is now working alongside many others to advocate for more support than what’s currently allotted for several institutions, including the College.
“The need is great out there right now,” said Keyes-Maloney in a phone interview, speaking to the vast majority of high education institutions in need across the state.
Montclair State University’s state appropriations in the budget for FY 2026 decreased by 9% and Rowan University saw a proposed 8% decrease in potential funds.
With the looming question surrounding what federal funding might look like under the Trump administration, legislators like State Sen. Andrew Zwicker, a Democrat from South Brunswick, are concerned about how potential federal cuts to research grants and student aid might affect New Jersey’s higher education institutions.
“A small liberal arts college, at its core, is multi-disciplinary and trains in a variety of [studies] like philosophy and English,” said Zwicker, who labeled himself a proud graduate of Barton College, a small, liberal arts school in upstate New York. “In the end, these are all critical thinkers that enter our economy and become these wonderfully productive members. But these are attacks on critical thinking itself.”
During the next few weeks, the state legislature will work to make changes to the proposed budget and look to finalize it in June. Advocates may be able to adjust the amount appropriated for the College among other universities, but ultimately the future of higher education funding is still very much up for debate.
