State System approves tuition increase
Courtesy of Pennsylvania Western University
For the first time in seven years, tuition at Pennsylvania’s state universities, including Pennsylvania Western, will be increasing, though that could change if the legislature allocates more funding to the schools.
The Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) approved an increase in tuition rates for the 2025-26 academic year. However, PASSHE is requesting a 6.5% increase in state funding, and if that is approved, the board will roll back all or part of the tuition jump.
In-state undergraduate tuition for the coming year will increase by $139 per semester, to $3,997. Full-year tuition will increase by $278, to $7,994.
“Every dollar counts for students,” Dr. Cynthia Shapira, chair of the Board of Governors, said in a news release issued Thursday. “If the state provides the funding we’ve requested, PASSHE can roll back tuition to help students with other essential expenses. We hope this action gives those involved in state budget negotiations the time and flexibility they need to secure as much as possible for our students while allowing students and our universities to prepare for the fall semester.”
Even with the delay in the state budget, the PASSHE Board must set tuition by this week to ensure students, families and universities have time to prepare for the fall semester, which begins in about six weeks.
Once the state budget is finalized and it is determined how much more funding, if any, is allocated to the PASSHE universities, it will be determined what steps will be taken, such as a possible rebate for students.
“We’ll honestly have to wait and see, depending on when the budget passes and the amount of money (provided),” said Kevin Hensil, PASSHE director of media relations. “Once that happens, we’ll be able to figure out what the options are. We really don’t know yet. The process hasn’t been determined. As far as I know PASSHE has never done this before, so we really don’t have a playbook to follow.”
The board determines in-state undergraduate tuition rates while individual schools establish graduate and out-of-state undergraduate tuition rates, along with student room, board, and mandatory fees.
“We know tuition decisions have a real-world impact on our students,” said Christopher Fiorentino, PASSHE chancellor. “This decision reaffirms our deep commitment to affordability and access as we transform the State System for the future. This approach to tuition honors our partnership with the governor and legislators and gives them time and flexibility to find ways to invest more in PASSHE students and universities.”
Fiorentino noted that had tuition kept pace with inflation since 2018, a student would pay nearly 28% more in tuition.
In addition to PennWest (California, Clarion and Edinboro), State System schools include Cheyney, Commonwealth (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield), East Stroudsburg, Indiana, Kutztown, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester.