LINCOLN- Over the past year, the University of Nebraska's plan to tackle a $58 million budget shortfall helped the school system keep its second-highest grade from S&P Global, allowing the University system to continue borrowing funding at a much lower interest rate. In a July 13th letter, S&P confirmed that NU had retained its AA bond rating, putting the state's only public university system in the top 8% of all public institutions in the United States.

The letter released by S&P cited and lauded the five-point plan enacted by the University system, which included boosting recruitment, strengthening the system's academic profile, improving research expenditures, improving transparency, and locating operational efficiencies. NU President Ted Carter revealed the plan this year to the NU Board of Regents. The plan includes a minimal 3.5% tuition hike for students, as well as the points listed above.

In the letter, S&P Global celebrated the plan, saying, "In our view, this is an example of the university managing in a proactive manner to sustain its long-term financial strength." The review conducted by S&P found that NU's current finances, despite budget shortfall worries, were "very strong." However, S&P confirmed that NU's stable credit rating could be downgraded "if the system issues a material amount of additional debt."

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