North Dakota Universities Crumble as Oil Cash Pours In - Jennifer Oldham, Bloomberg

North Dakota is struggling to finance deteriorating public universities even as it experiences the biggest energy boom in its history, raising concern that less prosperous states will face more serious funding challenges. Throughout the U.S., higher education institutions face growing repair bills as state appropriations dwindle. Arizona’s three universities need $511 million in maintenance. In Texas and Colorado, universities face $394 million and $248 million in costs, respectively. As North Dakota’s energy boom strains roads and water and sewer systems, its 11 public universities face an $808 million maintenance backlog. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-27/north-dakota-universities-crumble-as-oil-cash-pours-in.html