Maryland analysts outline modest state funding increases, enrollment gains and HBCU settlement reporting needs

Analysts from the Department of Legislative Services told the Education and Economic Development Subcommittee on a budget overview that state support for Maryland’s public four‑year institutions is projected to rise about 1.8%, or roughly $42.9 million, from fiscal 2025 to fiscal 2026, while total higher‑education funding would increase about 1.5% or $47.2 million.

The state analyst presentation framed the changes as largely driven by salary enhancements and uneven enrollment shifts. The analysts said state support for some University System of Maryland (USM) institutions falls once salary enhancements and other one‑time items are removed, and they requested narrative reporting from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) on planned uses of settlement funding for FY2026.

Analysts pointed to a broader national and state enrollment picture: Maryland’s total undergraduate enrollment rose about 3.6% in fall 2024, with community colleges up roughly 4.6% and public four‑year institutions up about 3.4%.…