Thursday, July 03, 2025, 3:06AM | 
MENU
Advertisement
The university was founded in 1889 as Slippery Rock State Normal School.
3
MORE

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education hopeful enrollment drop is abating

Slippery Rock University

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education hopeful enrollment drop is abating

Leaders of Pennsylvania’s 14 state-owned universities say they are hopeful that a prolonged enrollment slide, fueled partly by declining high school graduation rates, is abating, even as newly released figures confirmed a fourth consecutive yearly loss.

Total State System of Higher Education enrollment is 109,606 students this fall, 2 percent less than last year. Since peaking at 119,513 students in 2010, the system has lost 8 percent of its total full- and part-time enrollment, or 9,907 students — equal to one of the system’s larger universities.

The losses are a reason the campuses are under financial strain and have realigned programs while cutting faculty and staff.

Advertisement

East Stroudsburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester universities managed to buck the downward enrollment trend this fall with gains of 1, 2 and 2 percent, respectively.

The sun sets over the Cathedral of Learning in Oakland. At the University of Pittsburgh, the base yearly in-state tuition as of this fall is $16,872.
Bill Schackner
Cost of public colleges in Pennsylvania continues to soar, report finds

Most universities, including all five in Western Pennsylvania, saw gains in freshmen or transfer students, giving officials cause for hope.

The numbers were released amid actions indicating growing impatience among those schools with another source of strain: prolonged and sharp state aid reductions.

The State System’s board of governors, meeting Thursday in Harrisburg, took some in attendance by surprise by aiming high with its state appropriation request for next year — seeking a 12 percent increase for the 14 campuses, including California, Clarion, Edinboro, Indiana and Slippery Rock universities in Western Pennsylvania.

Advertisement

The increase to $462.7 million would be $49.9 million above this year’s funding. Last year, the system sought unsuccessfully to secure a 3.5 percent increase.

The appropriation vote came hours after it was revealed that the University of Pittsburgh will seek a 14.7 percent boost in its base state appropriation to $156.3 million for fiscal year 2015-16.

State System chairman Guido Pichini, among others, said it’s time for a conversation about the future of public higher education in Pennsylvania. “This might be a starting point for those conversations,” he said

The past few budget years have been especially rough for the state’s public campuses, including the State System and Pitt.

The performance audit document dated Dec. 10 was shared with officials at Cheyney and with the State System.
Bill Schackner
Pennsylvania audit finds Cheyney University in deep financial trouble

The State System, for instance, saw its appropriation cut 18 percent a few years ago and it has been flat since. Leaders filled the resulting gap between expenses and revenue using tuition hikes and spending cuts, including program realignments and faculty and staff layoffs.

But by its vote Thursday, the system is asking the governor and Legislature to fill the entire shortfall projected for next year.

The appropriation request and accompanying proposed State System budget show no tuition increase, but officials said one might still be needed.

Likewise, a board member cautioned peers about what to expect when the Legislature gets a request much larger than last year. “We better be prepared to defend it.”

Pitt Chancellor Patrick Gallagher said Pitt’s funding when adjusted for inflation “represents the lowest percentage of state support since Pitt became a public university in the 1960s.”

Kenneth Mash, Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties president, said it’s time for restoration of cumulative cuts he said help drive up student debt. “The time has come to be honest about what is occurring at our universities and to our students,” he said.

Bill Shackner: bshackner@post-gazette.com

 
State System enrollment

First Published: October 10, 2014, 4:00 a.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Minkah Fitzpatrick waves to fans as he runs on the field before a game against the Jaguars at Acrisure Stadium on the North Shore on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023.
1
sports
Joe Starkey: Steelers clearly won the Minkah Fitzpatrick trade — but to what end?
New Pennsylvania highway welcome signs and license plates were unveiled by Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
2
news
Here's how many new Pa. license plates have been issued so far
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller delivers during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Pittsburgh.
3
sports
3 takeaways: Pirates' sweep over Cardinals highlighted by dominance on the mound
Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Wednesday, July 2, 2025, in Pittsburgh.
4
sports
Instant analysis: Pirates shut out Cardinals to complete sweep without allowing a run
Gov.  Josh Shapiro, who is shown delivering his 2025-26 budget address in February, on Monday said negotiators are “very, very close” to reaching a deal on a budget.
5
news
Pace of Pa. budget talks hit by 'big beautiful bill' as Gov. Josh Shapiro slams cuts to Medicaid, SNAP
The university was founded in 1889 as Slippery Rock State Normal School.  (Slippery Rock University)
California University of Pennsylvania Convocation Center.  (Lake Fong/Post-Gazette)
Edinboro University's Meadville branch campus was renamed The Joseph T. Buba Center.  (Pam Panchak/Post-Gazette)
Slippery Rock University
Advertisement
LATEST news
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story