During 2022, U.S. federal, state and local governments spent $237 billion on “higher education, not including additional government funding of university research, university hospitals, and student loans. This amounted 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). It doesn’t include student services (like recreation and cultural events), institutional support (like administration and advertising), auxiliary enterprises (like dorms and food), and other miscellaneous expenses.