SPRINGFIELD | Since 2000, tuition at many state universities has more than doubled, and how much college costs in the next decade could depend on policies set by the next Illinois governor.

Gubernatorial candidates in the crowded Republican field have their differences about how to handle various issues facing higher education in Illinois.

Illinois' public universities have seen state funding mostly frozen this decade and have dealt with it by raising costs for students and trying to halt program expansions. Some candidates say that with the state budget running a huge deficit, sending more money to universities won't be immediately possible.

Republican state Sen. Bill Brady, of Bloomington, said more money could be sent to institutions of higher learning once the budget is turned around, but spending has to be frozen on all state programs.

"I really don't anticipate anyone getting more money," Brady said.

DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom agreed that sending more money might not be possible. But he said he'd try to end the state's late payments to schools. Southern Illinois University, for example, has warned it could miss making payroll if the state doesn't pay up sooner.

"Pay them what we say we're going to pay them," Schillerstrom said.

Republican strategist and candidate Dan Proft, on the other hand, suggests cutting state spending in other places to give colleges more money. He said spending on higher education is an investment because eventually graduates get good jobs.

"This is one of the few areas of government spending where you actually see a multiplier effect," Proft said.

Businessman Adam Andrzejewski said schools should look at cutting administration costs and benefits.

A university program that paid for agriculture research and was eliminated is one state Sen. Kirk Dillard, of Hinsdale, would like to restore.

He also suggested cutting back on faculty salary costs by using adjunct teachers.

"In addition, we need to be innovative in our approach to higher education, including the use of more business and adjunct faculty who can share their real-world expertise yet not receive the full-time salaries and benefits that drive up the cost of tuition," Dillard said.

A spokesman for former state GOP leader Andy McKenna didn't specifically say whether he thought more state money should be diverted to universities.

"Andy also recognizes that higher education funding has already been hit by the downturn in our economy and will do all he can to maintain the current levels of support for higher education," McKenna spokesman Lance Trover said.

Former Attorney General Jim Ryan also said solving the entire budget was key to universities' futures.

"If we get our budget under control, we can provide a steady and predictable stream of funding for our universities that will allow them to plan long-term and provide quality educational opportunities for our citizens," Ryan said.

Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn said he has asked universities to look closely at their budgets in the hopes of curbing spending and keeping tuition costs down.

But the deficit will keep much more money from flowing to universities in the near future, he said.

"Given the huge budget shortfall we currently face, we cannot reasonably expect to send more state funds to colleges and universities in the near future," Quinn said.

His top opponent, Comptroller Dan Hynes, said he plans to send more money to universities because his budget plan would raise state revenues. Hynes wants to raise income taxes on the wealthiest Illinoisans, building new casinos and raising cigarette taxes.

"The number one thing we can do at the state level to help keep tuition in check is to provide more money to our higher education system," Hynes said. "In order to do that, and frankly just about everything else we count on our state to do, we need to eliminate our crushing budget deficit." Quinn has proposed his own tax increase.

The primary election is Feb. 2.

Educational backgrounds

The candidates for Illinois governor represent a diverse range in higher education focus:

Republicans

Adam Andrzejewski: Bachelor's in business from Northern Illinois University

Bill Brady: Bachelor's in economics, political science and finance from Illinois Wesleyan University

Kirk Dillard: Bachelor's in political science and economics from Western Illinois University and law degree from DePaul University

Bob Schillerstrom: Bachelor's in religious studies from Illinois College and law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law

Dan Proft: Bachelor's in political science and economics from Northwestern University and law degree from Loyola

Jim Ryan: Bachelor's in political science from Benedictine College and law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law

Andy McKenna: Bachelor's in business administration from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Northwestern

Democrats

Pat Quinn: Bachelor's in international economics from Georgetown University and law degree from Northwestern

Dan Hynes: Bachelor's in economics and computer applications from the University of Notre Dame and a law degree from Loyola