Rep. Turzai supports tuition freeze at state universities

Pennsylvania Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny) recently expressed his support for the 14 state-owned universities that are freezing tuition for the 2019-20 school year.

“We are thrilled that Penn State Trustees and Penn State President Eric Barron are committed to helping ensure that college remains affordable for our students,” Turzai said. “In our previous state budget, as in our new spending plan, we had hoped that state funding would compel tuition freezes. What’s more, with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education announcing its tuition freeze, 90,000 students going to school this fall will pay the same this year as they did in 2018-19.”

Overall, higher education received increased state funding in the 2019-2020 state budget. Penn State received $268.8 million, an increase of $8.74 million or 3.4 percent. The appropriation for General Support received $242.1 million, an increase of $4.74 million or 2 percent. The State System of Higher Education received $477.47 million, an increase of $9.36 million or 2 percent.

The university has said it will keep tuition rates at $18,450 for freshman and sophomore undergraduate students, the second consecutive year with a freeze. Tuition for juniors and senior undergraduates will increase between $1,400 and $5,000, depending on the major.

The cost of attendance for a Pennsylvania resident, including all mandatory student fees, is $29,802 per semester, without financial aid.

Tuition at the 14 state-owned schools for an in-state, full-time student will remain at $7,716, Turzai noted.