The Higher Education Price Index rose 3.6% in fiscal 2025, the Commonfund Institute reported, signaling continued elevated inflation pressures on campus budgets. HEPI’s latest reading outpaced the Consumer Price Index and reflected sharp increases in faculty and administrative salaries, utilities and service staffing. Faculty pay rose 4.3%—the highest increase since tracking began in that category—while administrative salaries jumped 4.8%. Two‑year public colleges experienced the steepest overall inflation at 4.6%, driven in part by an 8.7% rise in faculty pay at that sector. Higher operating costs are prompting tighter margins, program cuts and renewed focus on revenue diversification across the sector.