Tuition freeze gives students a better shot
Any Pennsylvanian should have an opportunity to succeed at a State System university
The board of governors for Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education has watched for years the cost of higher education skyrocket in both the commonwealth and across the country. Annually, at our July meeting, we bemoaned this state of affairs and in the sunshine of public meetings tried to determine how much more tuition our students can tolerate.
This year we did something different — we took a bold stand for our students and a major step in affirming our mission to provide quality, affordable higher education.
The board voted this month to freeze tuition for the upcoming year. This means that the cost for an in- state student to attend one of our 14 universities and earn his or her undergraduate degree will be the same in 2019- 20 as it was last year, just $ 7,716. The board also froze technology fees at $ 478.
Our tuition remains significantly more affordable than even the average public university in the United States, which charged more than $ 9,700 in tuition and fees last year, according to U. S. News & World Report.
I’ll be the first to admit that in years past, this board has not always faced tough decisions with firm resolve. But, today I sense a
remarkably new level of commitment to our students and clear vision for the future.
This is the first time in two decades the board has held the line on tuition year to year. We took this action as a tangible demonstration that we are putting our students first.
We are grateful to Gov. Tom Wolf and the Legislature for being our partners in this endeavor, evidenced in a 2% increase this year in state appropriations for higher education. Now we must prove that we are taking the steps to ensure a return on this investment.
Our students ( and parents) have borne the greatest share of the financial burden as tuition and fees have risen to about 47% of the cost of attending a PASSHE institution.
Each year, as tuition and fees have increased, more and more of the commonwealth’s students seeking to enroll in one of our great schools have been priced out. This cannot continue, from both an ethical perspective and as a business model. Taking the step to freeze tuition is the first bold move to signal we are serious about redesigning our operations.
We want to imagine prospective students and their families across our commonwealth seated at kitchen tables this summer, crunching numbers in the hope of affording a college education and realizing that a PASSHE school is a great option.
Any Pennsylvanian, regardless of financial circumstances, should have an opportunity to apply to, and succeed at, a State System university. “Success” means that students graduate on a timely basis with the ability to enter a career and lead productive lives.
And with 90% of our students residing in Pennsylvania and so many remaining here after graduation — one- third of whom are pursuing STEM or health care degrees badly needed — we serve the commonwealth as well. This is our mission and this is why we’re freezing tuition for 2019- 20.
There are many crossroads ahead for the State System and our universities, many decisions which cannot be put off any longer. These choices on costs, leadership, and sharing resources will have a direct impact on the State System’s viability and sustainability. The board is prepared to make the right choices on behalf of our students.
Today, through the tuition freeze, we’ve sent a clear message to every future and current student. We’re committed to your success. We are taking this stand — here and now — and pledging to do what we must do to keep high- quality education affordable.