State System universities are a major provider of new teachers

New State System graduates to help ease statewide teacher shortages

Nearly 25% of Pa.’s education workforce are PASSHE university graduates

Harrisburg, PA – Helping to address the severe teacher shortage, nearly 2,000 future teachers and educators are projected to graduate from state-owned universities this month, Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) announced today.

The education students who graduate from State System universities this spring are prepared to pursue a master’s degree or enter school classrooms as teachers when school districts across the country are struggling to find qualified candidates.

“PASSHE universities are a major provider of new teachers, and we’re proud to graduate nearly 2,000 education majors to help with the teacher shortage,” said Chancellor Dan Greenstein. “Pennsylvania’s children and families depend on great teachers, and these new teachers are excited to enter the classroom and provide a high-quality education for years to come.”

PASSHE universities all began over a century ago as schools primarily to train teachers. While the institutions have grown into universities, education remains the second most enrolled program in the State System.

There are nearly 15,000 education majors enrolled across the 10 state-owned universities.

“Pennsylvania’s children depend on having enough great teachers, and our students and universities are working hard to help meet that need,” said Chancellor Greenstein. “Today, nearly a quarter of the education workforce in Pennsylvania are State System graduates.”

With 5,500 teacher vacancies, Pennsylvania has a critical educator workforce shortage, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

To help attract more students to teaching and other in-demand jobs, PASSHE has kept tuition the same for six consecutive years, despite historic inflation. The efforts incentivize Pennsylvania residents to pursue careers in classrooms and other jobs with worker shortages or careers in high demand.

PASSHE has kept in-state undergraduate tuition at $7,716 a year for six years. If tuition had kept pace with inflation, students would pay 21% more today.

In April, PASSHE’s Board of Governors reaffirmed its request for a state appropriation of at least $623.7 million—an increase of $38.1 million (or 6.5%)—for the 2024-25 fiscal year to enable the State System to keep tuition frozen for a remarkable seventh consecutive year.

“The governor and General Assembly have provided historic funding increases in recent years to enable us to freeze tuition in the past,” said Chancellor Greenstein. “A $38 million increase would allow us to freeze tuition again next year as part of our commitment to keeping tuition as low as possible.”

PASSHE universities deliver the lowest-cost four-year degrees in Pennsylvania. The price State System students pay for tuition, fees, room, board and common expenses has been nearly flat over the last five years. As a result, enrollment of new first-time students is up a combined 10% over two years.