Higher education officials are awaiting an injection of $32 billion in federal money after Congress passed the economic stimulus bill last week, aiming to jumpstart a slumbering economy in part by making college more affordable and funding campus projects that have run out of state funds in recent months.

University decision makers and governors nationwide are touting "shovel ready" projects -- campus improvements ready for construction -- as President Barack Obama prepares to sign the bill later today that will pump federal dollars into cash-strapped colleges.

Some of the country's largest universities are anticipating an influx of about $15 billion for campus-based scientific research included in the stimulus. 

Projections of how much of the stimulus money states will receive are preliminary, but many governors have estimates of how their states will benefit. For example, Nebraska colleges and universities expect to get a portion of $230 million set aside for an incentive program, according to federal and state statistics. More than $3 million will be allocated to bolster educational technology in Nebraska classrooms.

Massachusetts lawmakers expect state college renovations to be included in more than $2 billion reserved for education improvements. Universities and colleges in Georgia expect to receive a portion of $1.2 billion in education funds set aside for modernization efforts.

Obama's repeated commitment to expand high-speed internet connections to rural areas limited to slow dialup connections will jump start distance education programs at universities that serve rural populations, higher education officials said.

Walt Magnussen, director of telecommunications at Texas A&M University, said many of the school's students live in rural areas with limited or no access to broadband web connections. This has been a roadblock for students who would like to take web-based courses, but find themselves limited by dialup connections.