Community College Funding

The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) has numerous responsibilities related to the state funding of Oregon’s 17 community colleges. The information here will introduce you to the state’s processes for the funding of these community colleges.

The primary sources of the operational and educational funding for Oregon community colleges include the following.

• State funding, primarily through the Community College Support Fund 
• Tuition revenue 
• Local property tax revenue 
  

In addition to the HECC's responsibilities with regard to state funding of educational operations at the community colleges, the HECC administers several federal funds that support community college activity. The community colleges also receive state-financed bonds to support capital projects.

Community College State Funding Processes

The Community College Support Fund (CCSF) is the primary source of state funding supporting educational and operational expenses at Oregon’s 17 community colleges. The HECC is responsible for developing funding recommendations to the Oregon Governor and Legislature for the community colleges. The funding recommendations are made biennually, meaning they are made every two years. Information on the legislative and budget process is available through the link below.

After the biennial budget is determined by the Legislature and Governor, the HECC is responsible for the distribution of CCSF funds among the 17 community colleges.

• Read more about the distribution of the state investment in the community colleges.
  
• Find resources on current and historical funding levels.
  

Capital Construction and the Deferred Maintenance Process 

The HECC Office or Postsecondary Finance and Capital (PFC) coordinates the process for developing state budget recommendations for capital investments and state-funded debt for Oregon’s community colleges.

How to Stay Engaged in State Funding

As a state funding and policy coordination agency, the HECC works closely on state funding processes with the 17 public community colleges and many other partners. Community colleges are governed by locally elected boards. 

Our public processes related to funding of the community colleges are conducted at public meetings, often starting in the HECC Funding and Achievement subcommittee. Learn how to stay engaged with us or subscribe to public meeting notices here.

Federal Funds Administered by the HECC

In additional to the work of the PFC office, the HECC is responsible for the ongoing administration of federal funds related to workforce training, career and technical education, and adult basic skills. Learn more about this work through the offices linked to below.

• HECC Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development
  
• HECC Office of Workforce Investments

Community College Tuition-setting Process

Community college tuition is set annually by the local governing boards. The HECC does not make decisions about tuition costs at the community colleges.

State Funding Summary: Oregon Public Institutions

At the end of each legislative session, the PFC office publishes a State Funding and Formula Summary. The summary includes the budget allocation for the public community colleges and universities. This summary is a reference document and includes both institutional support for the public institutions and capital funding. It also provides detailed information on how the community college and public university funding distribution formulas work. View the most recent summaries below.

State Funding and Formula Summary, 2023-25State Funding and Formula Summary, 2021-23