State Colleges Tuition Frozen for 7th Consecutive Year

By Anthony Hennen of The Center Square
Republished by Travels With The Post

(The Center Square) — After another funding increase from the state, Pennsylvania’s public colleges will again freeze tuition for the seventh year.

The $35 million boost represents a 6% increase in the state budget for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (the system). It will keep the colleges’ tuition at $7,716 for undergrads. Pennsylvania was an early adopter of tuition freezes. Another was the University of North Carolina system, which has done so for eight years; its tuition: $4,553.

The system consists of 14 universities and 10 institutions. The universities include West Chester University in Chester County and Kutztown University in Berks County.

Others are Cheyney University, Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University-Lock Haven, Commonwealth University-Mansfield, East Stroudsburg University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Millersville University, Pennwest California, Pennwest Clarion, Pennwest Edinboro, Shippensburg University, and Slippery Rock University.

The goal is to attract more students

State investment has increased dramatically in recent years, as Pennsylvania’s higher education leaders attempt to reform the system. The goal is to attract more students, hopefully boosting enrollments by 20% after a years-long decline at most colleges within the system.

“We will have seen our funding increase by nearly one-third in the past five years, and that is just truly remarkable,” Cynthia Shapira, chair of the system’s Board of Governors, said during a July 17 meeting approving the freeze.

“It says a lot about the partnership we built with our elected leaders who understand and appreciate the value of our universities,” Shapira added. “They see the faculty and staff who are delivering on affordable, high-quality education. This education in our universities (is) preparing Pennsylvanians not only to be outstanding citizens, but to help fill high-demand roles that will keep our economy moving.”

Without a freeze, according to a system news release, tuition would be 25% higher if its cost had risen with inflation during the last six years.

The system “has acted transparently and as an exceptional steward of hard-earned taxpayer dollars and student tuition dollars,” Chancellor Dan Greenstein said. It “made high-quality education affordable and available to all Pennsylvanians.”

A colleges-to-careers pipeline

The state’s workforce, Greenstein argued, depends on the system’s colleges-to-careers pipeline to boost Pennsylvania.

The newly created state Board of Higher Education would improve collaboration across different institutions, he also suggested. The board “represents an opportunity for meaningful cooperation in a strategic manner to help colleges and universities better serve students, meet workforce development needs and support all communities,” Greenstein said.

Shapira called the new board “an outstanding advancement.”

Greenstein has warned of a “significant talent gap” in the Commonwealth. He believes the system is positioned as the way to train young people and adult learners to fill high-priority job fields.

In the last two fall semesters, system colleges overall have seen 10% enrollment growth. Critics worry that changes like staff reduction have not been sufficient enough to reposition them.

Photo provided to Travels With The Post by West Chester University