The Board of Governors for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) recently voted to freeze tuition for the upcoming school year.
PASSHE is comprised of 14-member universities with campuses throughout the state.
This is the first freeze this century and only the second freeze in the board of governors’ history. The other freeze was during the 1998-99 academic year.
Last year, tuition increased by $7,716 for full-time students while enrollment has been declining since 2011. Recently, the state system received 2 percent in additional state funding.
“The state system needs to remain competitive with other colleges, not only in the programs offered to students but also in the price that students pay to earn their degrees,” Sen. Scott Martin (R- Lancaster County), who is a member of the board of governors, said. “All students who want to pursue a college education should have a chance to make that dream a reality, and holding the line on tuition helps bring many students one step closer to achieving that goal.”
Funding probably will be decided for the 2020-21 school year by each college and university, PASSHE said.
PASSHE has a $62 million budget deficit for the upcoming school year.