Funding Request | PA State System of Higher Ed

Appropriations Request and Accountability Report Cover

PASSHE is on a strong upward trajectory, thanks to the dedication of our students, faculty, and staff and the commonwealth's support. The System is witnessing better enrollment and retention trends, improved financial stability for the system, stronger legislative relationships, and enhanced state funding.

PASSHE is committed to accountability and transparency and releases this extensive report as part of its annual appropriations request, making it available online before budget hearings and when lawmakers begin planning for the next fiscal year’s budget.

This report—presented in five sections—details PASSHE’s state funding request as well as contributions to the state (Section 1), student access and enrollment (Section 2), student affordability (Section 3), student progression and completion (Section 4), and university financial efficiency and sustainability (Section 5).

PASSHE’s partnership with the state has resulted in maintaining affordable tuition rates so that every Pennsylvanian who wants to advance their education, career, or economic status can do so at a PASSHE university. Because of this partnership, the Board of Governors has been able to freeze tuition at $7,716 since 2018 to help students and families the State System serves. Freezing tuition has had a significant impact: students can better focus on preparing for in-demand jobs, while universities can concentrate on expanding innovations that better serve students and meet workforce needs.

For Fiscal Year 2025-26, PASSHE requests an Education and General (E&G) appropriation of $661.1 million, which represents a $40.3 million, or 6.5%, increase over the current fiscal year. The state appropriation request aims to freeze the basic in-state undergraduate tuition rate for another year while acknowledging the State System’s increasing costs due to current and projected inflation.