HARRISBURG, Pa. – Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) continues to build momentum, with Fall 2025 enrollment climbing to 83,000 students, a 0.6% increase across its 10 universities — the first systemwide increase in more than a decade. Student retention reached its highest point on record, proving the commonwealth's increased investments in PASSHE to expand student supports are delivering strong results. 

Students transferring from a Pennsylvania community college increased by 14.3%, underscoring the value and accessibility of a PASSHE university degree.
 
PASSHE universities enroll more Pennsylvania residents than any other four-year university in the commonwealth. With 89% of students from Pennsylvania, the system plays a vital role in educating the workforce and strengthening local communities across Pennsylvania. 

"We are proud that Pennsylvania students are choosing PASSHE universities. Our innovative efforts are helping students to enroll, succeed and complete their degrees as we continue evolving to best serve the needs of Pennsylvania," said Dr. Cynthia Shapira, chair of the PASSHE Board of Governors. “These enrollment gains and record-setting retention rates demonstrate the value, affordability and career relevance of a PASSHE education across the Commonwealth.”

Enrollment Growth Across Pennsylvania

Seven of PASSHE’s 10 universities saw enrollment gains this fall, led by Cheyney University's 37.9% increase, which reached its highest total enrollment since 2014. East Stroudsburg University rose by 4.4%, Slippery Rock and Shippensburg universities increased by 2.75% and 2.6%, respectively. Millersville and West Chester universities also saw gains of 1.3% and 1.2%. Indiana University of Pennsylvania maintained stable overall enrollment, with a more than 8% increase in new students. 

Retention Reaches All-Time High; Community College Transfers Up Double Digits

The State System’s retention rate, which measures the percentage of students who return for their second year, reached an all-time high of 81%, exceeding the national average for similar institutions. The record retention rate highlights PASSHE’s strategic priority to expand programs and resources that help students succeed in the classroom, stay in college and graduate.

Transfer pathways to PASSHE universities are expanding, with the number of students transferring from Pennsylvania community colleges rising by 14.3%. This strong increase demonstrates PASSHE’s commitment to affordability and accessibility and emphasizes clear pathways for students to continue their education.

“These gains show that our faculty and staff are committed to helping students succeed," said Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino. "We are focused on providing high-quality, affordable education that prepares students for real opportunities after graduation. Pennsylvania needs more skilled workers in health care, STEM, business, and education, and our universities are helping meet that demand. Our graduates are making a difference in communities and contributing to the strength of the state’s economy."

Other highlights by each university:

• Cheyney University – New freshman enrollment rose 144%.
• Commonwealth University – Graduate enrollment increased by 7% and is up 25% since the integration of Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield in 2022. 
• East Stroudsburg University – Achieved its fourth consecutive year of enrollment growth and strengthened its retention rate this academic year by three percentage points. 
• Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) – Posted a record-breaking retention rate for first-time, full-time students, increasing by nearly three percentage points.
• Kutztown University – New freshman enrollment rose by 9.5%, and the university achieved its highest retention rate of the century. 
• Millersville University – Graduate enrollment increased by an impressive 8.5%. 
• PennWest University – Continued strong growth in online enrollment, with an 8% increase this fall.
• Shippensburg University – Overall enrollment rose by 2.6%, with first-time in college enrollment up nearly 1%.
• Slippery Rock University – Posted its largest single-year enrollment increase in nine years, growing by 2.75%. 
• West Chester University – Continues to lead in new student enrollment with more than 3,000 first-year students and 1,040 transfer students among 17,400 total.

Meeting Workforce Needs

Beginning next fall, a decline in the number of high school graduates is expected to challenge college enrollment nationwide. PASSHE has been proactively preparing by streamlining operations and aligning academic programs with workforce needs to help ease worker shortages and strengthen Pennsylvania’s economy.

One innovative strategy in development is course sharing, which would allow students to take courses from other PASSHE universities without leaving their home campus. These courses may be offered online or taught simultaneously across multiple campuses by a single professor. This model expands access to specialized classes and faculty expertise.

PASSHE Impact: Fast Facts

• 89% of students are Pennsylvania residents.
• 22% of students are underrepresented minorities, the highest in PASSHE history.
• Enrolls the most in-state students among all universities in Pennsylvania. 
• Most enrolled programs are business, education and health care.
• Graduates earn nearly $1 million more over their careers than those with only a high school diploma.
• Over 650,000 alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.

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About PASSHE
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) is the public university system of the commonwealth with a mission to provide a high-quality education at the lowest possible cost to students. The State System annually confers more than 20,000 degrees and has more than 800,000 living alumni, most of whom live in Pennsylvania. The State System universities are Cheyney, Commonwealth (Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield), East Stroudsburg, Indiana, Kutztown, Millersville, PennWest (California, Clarion and Edinboro), Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester universities of Pennsylvania.