State System universities’ tuition is significantly less

The Oct. 26 editorial “Keystone Stakes: State Universities, Already Pricey, Can’t Be Cut Loose” discusses the precarious situation involving higher education in Pennsylvania, pointing to a recent national report that indicates the state’s public universities charge the thirdhighest tuition and fees in the United States.

The problem with the report is that it combines Pennsylvania’s state-owned universities — the 14 universities that constitute Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education — with the four so-called “state-related” universities, which also receive some state support. Pennsylvania is unique in this designation, which results in significantly skewed national comparisons such as those prepared annually by the College Board.

To be clear, the tuition and fees at our 14 State System universities are significantly less than those of the state-related universities. Because the state-related universities are so much higher, they inflate the state’s average. The College Board’s new study — which lumps the state-owned and the state-related universities together — reports that Pennsylvania resident students will pay on average $14,437 this year in combined tuition and fees. However, the average combined total for tuition and fees charged by our 14 State System universities is significantly less, at $10,876.

The 14 State System universities, which include California, Clarion, Edinboro, Indiana and Slippery Rock universities of Pennsylvania, are the most affordable options among all four-year institutions in the state. We are committed to providing students high-quality educational opportunities at an excellent value.

KENN MARSHALL Media Relations Manager Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education

Harrisburg