$58 million. That’s how much S.C. colleges + universities spent on travel alone in the past year. Clemson + UofSC – for the 13th year in a row – came in #1 and #2, respectively, in travel expenses among the state’s public colleges, spending a total of $27.4 million within the last year.
Both schools use private planes for athletic recruitment + other events. Clemson sometimes uses charter + commercial flights.
For the 2016-17 fiscal year, college spending made up two-thirds of the state’s total travel expenditures – but schools seem to be spending more than the state is bringing in. Travel spending increased by 5.7% last year, while the state’s general fund revenue only increased by 4.3%.
Out of the top 10 total spenders, only the state’s Judicial Department + S.C. State University decreased their spending over the last year.
