April 14, 2022
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education to Freeze Tuition for 2022/23 Academic Year
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Harrisburg, PA – The Board of Governors for Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education voted
today to freeze tuition for an unprecedented fourth consecutive year.
Last October, the Board requested $550 million in state funding for the next fiscal
year to offset the need for a tuition increase. As part of a renewed partnership between
the State System and the Commonwealth, the Board is also seeking $201 million in direct-to-student
aid and at least $75 million of the remaining $150 million in federal funding the
General Assembly and governor have committed to continue the robust transformation
of state-owned universities.
“Pennsylvania’s economy depends on the talented and well-educated graduates from the
state-owned universities, and we are focused on providing a quality and affordable
public education to students of all backgrounds,” said Cindy Shapira, chair of the
Board of Governors. “We are hopeful the legislature supports our funding request so
we can maintain the tuition freeze. With all of the other rising costs in our economy,
working families should not have to worry about paying more for tuition at a public
university.”
Nearly 90,000 students attend a State System university, making it the largest producer
of bachelor's degrees in Pennsylvania. Over 88% of the student body resides in Pennsylvania,
and 78% of graduates from Pennsylvania are working within the Commonwealth three years
after earning their degree.
“The State System is keeping its promise to the General Assembly to redesign, and
that process is delivering positive results for our students and for the state,” said
State System Chancellor Daniel Greenstein. “With additional investments from the state,
the System can freeze tuition so more students can afford a high-quality public higher
education as we work together to make Pennsylvania’s workforce stronger.”
Basic tuition for in-state undergraduate students at the System's universities has
been $7,716 for the last three years.
“Just freezing tuition is not a sustainable strategy without meaningful investment
from the Commonwealth,” said Greenstein. “Pennsylvania must invest in its state-owned
universities if we want them to continue providing the high-quality, affordable education
they were born to deliver.”
Pennsylvania ranks 46th in the nation in terms of investment per student in state-owned,
four-year universities, and state funding has declined 35% ($252 million) from 2000/01
when adjusted for inflation.
The need to invest in public higher education is evident in the chronic shortage of
college-educated workers. Today, six in ten jobs require a college degree or credential,
but only 51 percent of Pennsylvania workers have that education. That talent gap is
experienced across health care, information technology, education, and other vital
industries and leaves businesses unable to hire the talented people they need to succeed.
Freezing tuition for a fourth year, increasing student aid and continuing the System
redesign will keep high-quality education accessible to more Pennsylvanians. It will
enable more low- and middle-income high school students and adults looking to re-skill
to get the quality higher education that Pennsylvania needs to start closing the workforce
talent gap.
As an engine of workforce development, System universities work closely with local
employers and deliver results. Last year, the universities created 23 new degree programs
and 60 new certificate programs to address workforce needs. They conferred nearly
24,000 degrees and certificates in high-demand areas like STEM, health, business,
and education.
The State System is also controlling costs, trimming $173 million in operating costs
and forgoing at least $63 million through the three years of tuition freezes, all
while investing $100 million in student aid from the universities.
According to a study last year, State System universities contributed $4 billion in
economic impact to Pennsylvania, representing $8.30 for every dollar of state funds.
More than 800,000 System alumni live in Pennsylvania, and most state-owned universities
are among the largest employers in their communities.
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Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education oversees 14 four-year public universities
educating nearly 90,000 students. The State System offers more than 2,300 degrees
and certificates in more than 530 academic areas. The State System universities are
Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Indiana, Kutztown,
Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester
universities of Pennsylvania.