July 20, 2023
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education Freezes Tuition Again
Contact: Kevin Hensil, khensil@passhe.edu
Tuition will be flat for the sixth consecutive year
If tuition had kept pace with inflation since 2018, it would be 21% higher
PASSHE applauds the General Assembly and Gov. Shapiro
for continued investment in students
Harrisburg, PA - The Board of Governors for Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (PASSHE)
today voted unanimously to freeze tuition for an unprecedented fifth consecutive year
and applauded the General Assembly and Governor Josh Shapiro for their strong support
of State System students.
With the decision, tuition for in-state undergraduate students – nearly 90% of whom
are Pennsylvania residents – will be flat for six consecutive years (2018-19–2023-24).
If tuition had kept pace with inflation since 2018, it would be 21% higher today.
“Freezing tuition for a fifth consecutive year has been a major priority for the State
System universities to best serve our 85,000 students – many of whom are from low-
and middle-income families,” said Cynthia Shapira, chair of the Board of Governors.
“Our students depend on PASSHE universities for a high-quality education at the lowest
cost.
“The State System is incredibly appreciative to the General Assembly and Governor
Shapiro for their continued strong investment in PASSHE students and the state-owned,
public universities that serve them. PASSHE was created to benefit Pennsylvania, and
funding from the state is a lifeline for our students to have access to higher education.”
The state budget passed by the House and Senate would provide an increase of $33 million,
or 6%, to PASSHE universities. With that level of investment, in the last two years
the state has increased funding by $108 million, or nearly 23%, with PASSHE receiving
$585.6 million in 2023-24, up from $477.5 million in 2021-22.
“PASSHE is proud of our partnership with the state, which helps Pennsylvania’s students
get the education and skills for the most in-demand jobs at the lowest cost,” said
Chancellor Dan Greenstein. “Higher education is changing, and State System universities
are continuing to evolve to meet the new needs of students, employers and Pennsylvania’s
economy. Together with the state, we are strengthening the pipeline of talented and
skilled people from the classroom to the workforce and providing value to students
as they gain the knowledge to build successful careers close to home.”
In addition to keeping in-state undergraduate tuition at $7,716 for a sixth year,
PASSHE students will receive $125 million in university-funded financial aid to help
them afford their education. The tuition freeze and aid are possible due to increased
state funding and PASSHE universities saving $300 million through a commitment to
cost efficiencies.
State System universities are a major contributor to Pennsylvania’s workforce and
align academic programs to the needs of local communities and employers. In fact,
PASSHE universities have increased the number of students graduating into high-demand
careers – healthcare, STEM, education and business – since 2010, despite there being
fewer total students.
State System highlights:
- Nearly 90% of students are from Pennsylvania, 33% of entering students are the first members of their family to go to college and 22% are part-time students.
- Over 35% of students have family incomes of $48,000 or less.
- More than 20% of students are underrepresented minority students
- PASSHE guarantees admission to transfer students with associate degrees from Pa. Community Colleges.
- College graduates earn $866,144 more over their careers than those without a degree.
- PASSHE universities contribute $4 billion in economic impact to Pennsylvania and are
principal employers in their regions.