Seven polytechnics and universities will get less government funding this year, figures from the Tertiary Education Commission show.
But total funding for tertiary institutions and industry training organisations has risen $49 million, or 1.8 percent.
Lincoln University has lost the most at $4.7 million, or more than 10 percent of its government funding.
Lower North Island polytechnic the Universal College of Learning has lost $2 million (7 percent), while Waikato University and Aoraki Polytechnic lost more than $700,000.
Funding fell more than $300,000 at Whitireia Polytechnic in Porirua, Nelson-Marlborough Institute of Technology and Bay of Plenty Polytechnic.
The funding covers student enrolments, research and community education.