PASSHE increases tuition by 3.5 percent state-wide

While students returned home for the summer and the pace of life slowed down on college campuses across the country, the board of governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) were making changes to state school tuition.

On July 13, the Board of Governors approved a tuition increase of 3.5 percent for the 2017-18 academic year. This percentage increase correlates to an additional $127 per semester for students who are full time and residents of Pennsylvania. For these students — who make up nearly 90 percent of state system university students — the total price for attendance will now be "$3,746 per term, or $7,492 for the full year," PASSHE said in a press release this summer.

These numbers will differ for students who are out-of-state residents or not enrolled full- time.

The intention of this tuition increase is to offset the budget deficit that the state system has been grappling with. At the time of the press release, the deficit was projected to be $71.1 million across the entire system.

They state the change is necessary because, "the state system will receive about $50 million less from the state this year than it did in 2007-08," PASSHE said in its press release. The contribution from the state to the state system now is comparable to the contribution during the 2001-02 academic year.

Over the last 12 years, over $300 million in expenditures have been reduced across the university system.

In addition to the change in tuition, state universities, have to make additional budget cuts of their own. The Board of Governors said schools will have to trim a combined total of $37.8 million in expenditures to balance the budgets.

"We believe Edinboro University continues to provide significant value in higher education with high-quality programs remaining the most affordable in the region," Edinboro University President H. Fred Walker said in a written announcement this July.

"We will continue our investment in quality programs for our students and to ensure a bright future for Edinboro University," Walker said.

Hannah McDonald is the assistant news editor for The Spectator. She can be reached at eupnews.spectator@gmail.com.