Until a few years ago, it had no endowment whatsoever. You have to take it year by year. The long simmering debate over funding for College Park burst into public view last year with the surprise departure of popular university President William E. Kirwan to head Ohio State University. Kirwan said the failure of Maryland to support its flagship campus fully was a key factor in his decision to leave. Mote, though less outspoken than his predecessor, has met privately with Glendening and with leaders of the General Assembly to plead his case, and he is publicly upbeat about the school's chances of achieving its financial and educational goals.
Higher education is expensive.
But if you think higher education is expensive, you ought to try ignorance.