Plan YOUR COSTS

Can I Afford College? The answer is YES.

Pennsylvania’s 10 State System universities offer the lowest tuition rates among all four-year institutions in the commonwealth. We design our programs to keep higher education within reach. In fact, almost 80 percent of our students receive financial aid to help cover their expenses.

Use this guide to map out your investments, review current rate ranges, and secure your funding.

Know Your Costs

Your cost of attendance splits into two simple categories. This structure helps you separate what you pay directly to the campus from what you need to budget for your everyday student lifestyle.

Direct Costs (Billed by the University)

  • Tuition: The core cost of your academic instruction.
  • Fees: Mandatory campus charges like technology or student activity fees.
  • Housing: Your chosen student housing accommodations.
  • Meal Plans: Your chosen campus dining program.

Indirect Costs (Estimated Out-of-Pocket Expenses)

Transportation: Costs incurred by a student for transportation between school, residence, and place of work (including costs associated with operating and maintaining a vehicle used for such transportation).

Miscellaneous Personal Expenses: Daily necessities, laundry, phone bills, and small incidental costs.

Detailed Rates (2026-2027)

While baseline undergraduate tuition is consistent across most of the system universities, total costs vary based on your choice of university, residency status, housing setup, and meal plan.

Estimated average price for a Pennsylvania undergraduate student living on campus: $23,700 per year.

Expense Category Annual Rate Range Notes / Details
In-State Tuition $8,338 Base full-time undergraduate rate for most students.
Out-of-State Tuition $8,588 – $20,846 Varies by residency status and university.
In-State Tech Fee $518 – $970 Mandatory technology tuition fee varies by university.
Mandatory Fees $2,416 – $4,458 University-specific campus and activity fees.
Housing Plans $3,206 – $12,609 Varies widely based on room type and campus.
Meal Plans $2,910 – $5,264 Varies by university and the selected dining plan option.

NOTE: The base tuition rate for graduate students is $557 per credit. However, universities may charge different rates for certain programs. Please use the link below to get more information about individual university tuition and fee rates.

View Specific University Tuition and Fee Rates

Financial Support 

You do not have to fund your education alone. Each university’s financial aid office is ready to help build a customized, sustainable plan using a combination of resources: 

  • Grants & Scholarships: Gift aid that does not need to be paid back. 
  • Student Loans: Borrowed funds that are repaid over time with interest. 
  • Work-Study Jobs: Flexible, part-time on-campus employment fitting class schedules.  

Key Financial Aid Terms

Resources