PASSHE Seeks State Investment for 8th Year with Frozen Tuition

Harrisburg, PA - Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) is seeking a state funding increase for 2025-26 to enable the Board of Governors to keep tuition frozen for an eighth year at the state-owned public universities and to invest in student success initiatives.

PASSHE's Board of Governors unanimously voted on Oct. 10 to request a state appropriation of $661.1 million, an increase of $40.3 million, or 6.5%, for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

"Increased state investment in recent years has allowed PASSHE to freeze tuition for the seventh straight year. That support helps Pennsylvania students access a high-quality college education, preparing them for in-demand jobs and rewarding lives in our commonwealth, said Board Chair Cynthia Shapira, Ed.D. "We hope to continue that success and are requesting additional state investment that would enable PASSHE to keep tuition frozen for a remarkable eighth year."

The Board of Governors sets the in-state undergraduate tuition rate for PASSHE universities. Each university determines tuition rates for graduate and out-of-state undergraduate students, as well as room, board and mandatory fees for all students.

Affordability and Value
The 10 state-owned public universities in PASSHE enroll more Pennsylvanians at the lowest price of all four-year colleges or universities in Pennsylvania.

Increased state funding in recent years has enabled PASSHE to keep tuition frozen at the same rate for seven years (2018-19 to 2023-24). The repeated freezes are saving students nearly 25% in tuition costs compared to the price if tuition had risen at the inflation rate during that time.

Tuition freezes have also made a valuable PASSHE degree more affordable to students, helping to stabilize System enrollment despite the federal government's FAFSA rollout fiasco, declining population trends, and persisting headwinds confronting most higher education institutions across the nation.

"PASSHE universities deliver tremendous value to the state by preparing Pennsylvania students for in-demand jobs at the lowest price," said Chancellor Dan Greenstein. "The partnership between PASSHE and state leaders makes it possible, and I have full confidence that interim chancellor Christopher Fiorentino will have a great collaboration with Governor Shapiro and the legislature that benefits our students and the commonwealth."

PASSHE delivers for Pennsylvania
A college degree is an investment in a person's future, and PASSHE's mission is to ensure Pennsylvanians can get a quality higher education at the lowest possible cost to students. Nearly 90% of PASSHE university students are from Pennsylvania, many of whom are from low- and middle-income families and depend on state funding to obtain a college degree or certificate.

By 2025, 60% of jobs will need a quality credential beyond high school, yet only 53% of Pennsylvania's workforce has one, according to the Lumina Foundation. That gap contributes to worker shortages in communities and industries throughout the commonwealth.

College-to-Career Opportunities
PASSHE universities prepare students with a comprehensive education and specific skills for successful careers and lives in Pennsylvania. The universities coordinate with regional employers to align their academic programs with local workforce needs and create a college-to-career path that benefits students and employers.

Universities have increased the number of graduates in high-growth job fields over the past decade despite the enrollment challenges in higher education across the country.

The most enrolled majors at State System universities are business, education and health care, all fields with in-demand jobs.

Accountability and Transparency
PASSHE remains steadfast in its commitment to accountability and transparency to students, state leaders and the public. Each year, the State System releases a report detailing enrollment trends, student affordability, student progression and graduation rates, university financial status and the State System's contribution to Pennsylvania.

The extensive report is posted online before the House and Senate Appropriations Committee budget hearings.

PASSHE Facts:

• Nearly 90% of students are from Pennsylvania.
• Enrolls the most in-state students of four-year colleges or universities in Pennsylvania.
• Over 35% of students have family incomes of $48,000 or less.
• More than 70% of graduates earn degrees or certificates in business, education, health care, psychology, protective services, and STEM programs-all career fields with worker shortages.
• 95% of community college transfer credits are accepted by PASSHE universities.
• Universities guarantee admission to transfer students with associate degrees from Pennsylvania community colleges.

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