Aligning financial resources with university priorities
As a state-related institution without a large endowment, Temple’s operating budget—which finances the day-to-day, ongoing operations of the university—is almost entirely driven by tuition revenue. Examples of what is financed by the operating budget include departments, schools and colleges; student resources and services; libraries; campus operations and more. Compensation and benefits make up approximately 65% to 70% of the overall operating budget.
The Budget Office is responsible for the planning, implementation and administration of Temple University's operating budget. This entails the preparation and submission of the annual operating budget for Board of Trustees' approval and ensuring our financial resource decisions are aligned with the institution's defined strategic priorities and timeline. Additionally, the team is responsible for the preparation of the University's annual appropriation request to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
The appropriation helps to offset Temple’s education-related costs, so we can pass those savings on to Pennsylvania students in the form of lower tuition. The annual state appropriation supports Temple’s core educational mission and uses the state funds to pay for the necessary expenses to educate students. Pennsylvania currently ranks 46th in funding per student for state appropriations to public universities where college in PA costs 28.33% more than the national average cost of attendance at a public 4-year institution (see Education Data report). According to the Commonwealth Foundation, PA ranks 23rd nationally in grants per all college students; and ranks 43rd for total state funding per public university undergraduate student.
Temple has received annual base funding of $158.2 million each year since 2019, and these funds are key in allowing the university to keep tuition as low as possible for Pennsylvania residents. Thanks to the state appropriation, the university is able to offer more than $270 million in tuition support to Pennsylvania residents. As a result of the investment, Temple provides every undergraduate in-state resident with at least a $15,600 annual discount on tuition.
Temple approaches the tuition-setting process from the outset each year with a goal of keeping any increases as low as possible. That goal is dependent on a variety of factors, including enrollment estimates for resident and non-resident students; state appropriation; cost-saving opportunities; cost increases committed to labor contracts, and employee benefits. See the tuition calculator for a closer look.
FY25 Operating Revenue Over Time
