Chancellor Frank T. Brogan
Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education
Harrisburg – Is college really worth it—all of that time and effort, not to mention how much
it costs, to earn a degree?
Articles about rising college costs and growing student debt dominate the national
headlines. There was even a feature film made on the subject—Ivory Tower—which premiered
at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and made its television debut Thursday night on
CNN. There’s no doubt it’s a question on the minds of many high school students and
their families as they ponder the future.
Certainly, paying for college is a major investment—for many, second only to the cost
of buying a home. But, how do you judge a good investment from a bad one? The best
way is to consider its rate of return.
While not every job requires four years of college, according to a recent study by
the U.S. Census Bureau, an individual with a bachelor’s degree can expect lifetime
earnings to be more than double that of someone with a high school diploma alone.
Add a graduate or professional degree, and that figure goes even higher. It’s hard
to argue that a college education isn’t one of the best investments you will ever
make.
What’s more, unemployment among college graduates is about one-third that compared
to those without a degree. Put another way, earn a college degree and you’re much
more likely to have a job, and one that pays more. In that sense, the cost of not
going to college is very high.
Still, the price tag can be daunting, especially to someone who comes from a family
background where no one has gone to college before. The thought of going into debt
to pay for college scares away many talented potential students—an important issue
that calls for serious and ongoing dialogue.
That’s why it’s important to keep the price of high-quality higher education as affordable
as possible, which is the mission of the 14 universities within Pennsylvania’s State
System of Higher Education.
Our state-owned universities are focused on three things: access, quality and value.
We are working to ensure the high-quality, high-demand degree programs we offer align
with the demands of our students and their future employers. We continue our efforts
to increase efficiency and accountability as a means to keep tuition manageable for
Pennsylvania’s families.
In fact, the average price of tuition and fees at the State System universities is
approximately half that of state-related schools Penn State, Pitt and Temple and a
fraction of what many private universities charge. What’s more, the average total
price of attendance—combined tuition, fees, room and board—at our 14 institutions
is below the national average.
There is little question that higher education funding is an investment for the Commonwealth
too, and the rate of return is just as high because our graduates form the foundation
of Pennsylvania’s future. Nearly 90 percent of State System students are Pennsylvania
residents, most of whom will remain here after graduation to live, work and raise
their families, supporting the state’s economy as they do.
Is college worth it? The answer to that question remains a resounding yes—both for
Pennsylvania’s families and for the Commonwealth as a whole.
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education is the largest provider of higher
education in the Commonwealth, with about 110,000 students. The 14 State System universities
offer degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study.
The universities are Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro,
Indiana, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock
and West Chester Universities of Pennsylvania. The universities also operates branch
campuses in Oil City (Clarion), Freeport and Punxsutawney (IUP) and Clearfield (Lock
Haven), and offer classes and programs at several regional centers, including the
Dixon University Center in Harrisburg and in Center City in Philadelphia.