Higher-ed IT costs continue to rise

Report shows steady IT spending increases for college and universities throughout this decade -- but that's about to change

By Dennis Carter, Assistant Editor
Read more by Denny Carter

Technology spending among colleges and universities has swelled in recent years, but experts project only minimal increases from 2009-13, according to a report documenting a wide range of trends in higher education.

The Software & Information Industry Association’s postsecondary market report, released this month, details changes in college enrollment, the number of types of postsecondary schools, demographic changes, and fluctuating technology spending among institutions of all sizes, among other trends.

U.S. campuses spent $6.94 billion on education technology during the 2005-06 school year, marking a 35-percent increase from the $5.15 billion spent in the 2004-05 year, according to the industry report. Nearly every aspect of IT spending jumped in 2005-06, including a 23-percent hike in contracting outside services and a 50-percent rise in hardware costs.

Read the full story at eCampus News