Trenton – Senator Joe Cryan, the Chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, issued the following statement praising the increased funding of $90 million for New Jersey’s colleges and universities added to the budget.

The Fiscal Year 2025 State Budget approved by both houses of the Legislature will include an additional $20 million for community colleges and an increase of $70 million for the state’s four-year colleges and universities:

“I fought to get this funding added to the budget because these are some of the best investments the state can make. They will make the cost of higher education more affordable for students and their families and make a college degree more attainable,” said Senator Cryan (D-Union).

“Our community colleges educate four out of ten college students in the state, providing them with the skills and training they can use for good jobs or to pursue a four-year degree. This helps to keep New Jersey students in the state, where they can join the workforce and contribute to the state’s economy.

“We have some of the best public colleges and universities in the country, but they need our support. The additional state aid will pay dividends with a skilled workforce that generates economic growth and helps fuel a knowledge-based economy. This will produce benefits for the entire state for years to come.”