01 education expenditure on tertiary education

The nation spent €30.1 billion (€bn) on tertiary education in 2015. This is 2.6 times more than in 1980 (in constant euros). The contribution by central government represented 67.9% of that amount. In 2015, average expenditure per student stood at €11,680, or 40% more than in 1980 (in constant euros).

In 2015, the nation (central government, local authorities, other public administrative bodies, households and companies) dedicated €30.1 billion to tertiary education, a rise of 0.2% over 2014 (at constant prices). Since 1980, expenditure on tertiary education has seen strong growth of 2.7% per year on average. Its share of domestic education expenditure (DEE) increased from 15.1% in 1980 to 20.3% in 2015 (table 01.01).

Over the whole period, DEE on tertiary education was multiplied by 2.6 in constant euros (chart 01.02). Despite this significant increase, average expenditure per student rose by only 40% due to a doubling of student numbers. Over the same period, average expenditure per secondary school pupil increased by 65.9%. Over the period 2006-2009, when there was both a rapid increase in DEE and a slowdown in student enrolment, expenditure per student increased by 3.5% on average per year. Since 2009, however, the slowdown in DEE combined with a new rise in the student numbers has resulted in a drop in spending per student of 0.5% annualy ¹.

Average expenditure per student stood at €11,680 in 2015 (chart 01.03). Although it may be difficult to compare the cost of different curricula directly, especially since research expenditure is included in the university totals, there are considerable differences from one branch of study to another. The cost varies from €10,390 euros per year for a university student to €15,100 for a pupil in a class preparing for admission to Grandes Ecoles (CPGE). However, in recent years, the gap between these average expenditure figures has tended to narrow (chart 01.03) but they have diverged again for two years.

More than seventy per cent (73%) of total expenditure goes on staff, especially teachers' wages (44%) (chart 01.04).

In terms of initial funding (see definitions opposite), central government contributes the major share of DEE for tertiary education (67.9%) while local authorities contribute 10.7% and households 9.4% (table 01.01). In terms of final funding, i.e. after including grants in the household budget, the household share practically doubles (17.4%). Some direct or indirect support, funded by the central government and which benefit students or their families, do not appear in the DEE for tertiary education: these are related to taxation (increase in family quotient) or are not directly linked to student status (social housing benefit). If they were included (excluding social welfare payments), expenditure per student in 2015 would then increase €11,680 to €12,880.

Jean-Pierre Dalous & Lisa Fratacci

¹ Change in expenditure on programmes 150, 231 and 142 of the Inter-ministerial Mission for Research and Higher Education (MIRES) was -0.2% between 2010 and 2011, +1% between 2011,  and 2012, +0.9% between 2012 and 2013, +0.0% between 2013 and 2014, and +0.1% between 2014 and 2015 0 (at 2015 prices).