Pa. State System of Higher Education votes to freeze tuition costs for 5th straight year
For the fifth straight year, the Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors voted to freeze the price of tuition at its 13 member universities, which includes Pennsylvania Western University and its California, Clarion and Edinboro campuses, along with Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The decision means tuition for in-state undergraduate students – of which nearly 90% are Pennsylvania residents – will be flat for six consecutive years.
If tuition had kept pace with inflation since 2018, it would be 21% higher today, according to PASSHE.
“Freezing tuition for a fifth consecutive year has been a major priority for the State System universities to best serve our 85,000 students – many of whom are from low- and middle-income families,” said Cynthia Shapira, chair of the Board of Governors. “Our students depend on PASSHE universities for a high-quality education at the lowest cost.”
She continued, “PASSHE was created to benefit Pennsylvania, and funding from the state is a lifeline for our students to have access to higher education.”
The state budget passed by the House and Senate would provide an increase of $33 million, or 6%, to PASSHE universities. With that level of investment, in the last two years the state has increased funding by $108 million, or nearly 23%, with PASSHE receiving $585.6 million in 2023-24, up from $477.5 million in 2021-22.
PennWest Executive Director of Communications Wendy Mackall said in a statement, “Today’s decision by the Board of Governors for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education is excellent news for the State System and, most importantly, for the students we serve. The State System was created to meet the higher education and workforce needs of Pennsylvania, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to provide high-quality education at the lowest possible cost. Together, we are helping students gain the knowledge they need to build successful careers and lead fulfilling lives.”
Chancellor Dan Greenstein said State System universities are continuing to evolve to see the needs of students, employers, and Pennsylvania’s economy as higher education changes.
“Together with the state, we are strengthening the pipeline of talented and skilled people from the classroom to the workforce and providing value to students as they gain the knowledge to build successful careers close to home,” he said.
In addition to keeping in-state undergraduate tuition at $7,716 for a sixth year, PASSHE students will receive $125 million in university-funded financial aid. The tuition freeze and aid are possible due to increased state funding and PASSHE universities saving $300 million through a commitment to cost efficiencies.
According to PASSHE, State System universities have increased the number of students graduating into high-demand careers like health care, STEM, education and business since 2010, despite there being fewer total students.