As public funding for higher education declined in the 2008-09 recession, the Delta Project report on Postsecondary Costs, Productivity and Accountability said American students and donors might have to provide an even higher percentage of college revenue in the future.

At the same time, the report added, the schools are spending less of their declining revenue on core education and more on administration, student services, academic support and maintenance, including campus security.

"Students are paying for more and arguably getting less," Delta Project said in the report, which was issued just as concern about college costs grew rapidly across the nation.