The latest data from the U.S. Department of Education shows that public colleges dedicate an average of 26% of their spending to student instruction. Taxpayer funding of higher education currently amounts to 87% of all spending by public and private colleges on functions that directly contribute to the education of students and the general public. This includes instruction (like teaching salaries and classrooms), public services (like informational conferences), and academic support (like libraries and information technology). Facts about whether or not colleges are equipping students with practical skills are located at the third link below.