A Riverland Community College Editorial -- February 2026

Minnesota’s public colleges and universities have spent years tightening belts, finding efficiencies, and stretching every dollar. At Riverland Community College, we take that responsibility seriously because our communities expect it and deserve it.

But there is a growing misconception that colleges can continue absorbing rising costs without consequence. The reality across Greater Minnesota is more complicated, and the margin for absorbing additional pressure is disappearing.

Over the past decade, state support has represented a shrinking share of the true cost of educating students. Legislative funding remains essential, yet it no longer reflects the full operating reality of modern campuses. Utilities, technology infrastructure, cybersecurity protections, insurance, compliance requirements, and facility maintenance continue to increase. At the same time, colleges are asked to expand access, strengthen workforce partnerships, support student mental health, and maintain safe, welcoming learning environments.

At Riverland, we have responded responsibly. We have consolidated services, delayed facility improvements, limited hiring, and asked employees to carry broader responsibilities. We pursue alternative revenue through grants, customized workforce training, employer partnerships, and philanthropic support.

Recent state and federal investments allowed Riverland to secure more than $1.5 million in advanced manufacturing equipment in Albert Lea and Owatonna. These upgrades align directly with regional workforce needs in precision manufacturing and skilled trades. Through partnerships with local businesses and community donors, we launched the Freeborn County Community Promise Scholarship and the Owatonna Opportunity Scholarship, providing tuition support to low-income students who might otherwise never enter higher education.

These efforts matter. They strengthen workforce pipelines and expand opportunity. But they cannot replace stable and predictable public investment.

Tuition alone cannot close the gap without placing an unacceptable burden on students. Many Riverland students are working adults, first-generation learners, or parents balancing family and employment. Increasing tuition shifts the strain onto the very people Minnesota depends on to fill high-demand roles in healthcare, education, agriculture, manufacturing, and public safety.

Community colleges serve as the backbone of Greater Minnesota’s workforce system. We train nurses who staff rural clinics, electricians who wire local businesses, welders who support regional manufacturing, to name a few key examples. We provide affordable transfer pathways that keep talent rooted in our communities. When operating budgets tighten, the effects are immediate and local. Fewer course sections extend time to completion. Deferred maintenance impacts safety and learning environments. Reduced student support limits persistence for those who need guidance most.

This legislative session arrives at a pivotal moment. Colleges are not asking for excess. We are asking for stability, predictability, and recognition that cost pressures are real and unavoidable. Continued erosion of operating support does not vanish into efficiencies. It shows up in fewer opportunities for students and fewer skilled workers for our region.

Minnesota’s economic strength depends on an educated and adaptable workforce. Sustaining that pipeline requires investment that keeps pace with today’s realities. Riverland will continue to steward public dollars carefully and transparently. We ask policymakers to partner with us so we can continue serving students and strengthening Greater Minnesota without compromising access, quality, or safety.

Minnesota State 2026 Capital Bonding Request 

Summary: 

• $200 million for facilities maintenance (asset preservation) 

• $223.5 million for major capital projects at four colleges and universities 

• $38.5 million for: 
  • • systemwide demolition of buildings to reduce our footprint and improve efficiency  
    • targeted renovations for learning environments and equipment creating modern, collaborative spaces