Radiografía de la inversión anual de las autonomías en sus universitarios: de los 5.467 euros en Madrid a los 10.216 en Asturias | Educación | EL PAÍS

Regional Disparities in University Investment

This article analyzes the annual investment of Spain's autonomous regions in their public universities in 2025. It highlights significant discrepancies in funding per student, with Asturias leading at €10,274 and Madrid lagging at €5,467. The report points out that despite Madrid's wealth, its investment is notably low, even after a small budget increase.

Key Findings

• Asturias invests the most per student (€10,274), with plans for free tuition.
• Madrid invests the least (€5,467), despite being the wealthiest region.
• Other regions show varied investment levels, with Navarra (€8,976), Andalusia (€8,263), and Galicia (€9,655) showing relatively higher investments.
• Several regions offer tuition waivers or assistance for successful students.

The article discusses the factors influencing these disparities, including student population density, existing tuition fees (highest in Navarra and Madrid), and access to state scholarships (lowest in Navarra and Madrid).

Further Considerations

The article also touches upon the challenges faced by some universities, including pressure from private universities, concerns about fulfilling long-term plans, and ongoing negotiations with regional governments over funding.

Despite regional variations, the average university investment in Spain represents 0.7% of the GDP, significantly below the 1% target set by the LOSU (Ley Orgánica del Sistema Universitario), and even further behind the 1.2% European average. The study emphasizes that insufficient funding hampers Spain's ability to compete internationally in higher education.