New Hampshire’s standing as last in the nation when it comes to state aid for higher education got worse with the recent state budget that cuts support by nearly 18%, according to a report from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (NHFPI).

In the previous fiscal year ending June 30, state aid to the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) dropped 3.9% while the average among all U.S. states during that time was a 4.3% increase in assistance.

“Our findings should serve as a wake-up call,” said Nicole Heller, author of the study and a senior policy analyst at NHFPI, a nonprofit independent think tank that’s often critical of conservative changes in fiscal policy.

“Underfunding our public colleges and universities not only makes it harder for Granite Staters to afford to pursue co

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