Washington: Private colleges may compete for state funds

A budget provision presented to Washington’s governor would allow private colleges in the state to compete for state funding in high-demand academic areas such as computer science, nursing and special education. Currently there are 18,000 more students in public universities than the state provides funds to support. The money would be distributed by a state-grant program that pays universities more on a per-student basis for programs that prepare students for high-demand jobs within the state.