UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Students, administrators and staff from several Pennsylvania higher education institutions testified about college affordability in front of the Pennsylvania House Education Committee during a hearing held Sept. 17 at Penn State’s University Park campus.  

In addition to affordability, the hearing also focused on funding for higher education institutions, access to higher education, and the impact of higher education in the commonwealth.  

Penn State’s Michael Wade Smith, senior vice president and chief of staff, and Zion Sykes, president of the University Park Undergraduate Association, both testified during the hearing, which was held in the College of Engineering’s new Engineering Collaborative Research and Education Building.  

“Coming from Philadelphia, being a first-generation and homeless student at the time of my college application process, I cannot understate the importance of affordability,” Sykes said. “I didn’t even think that college was within my reach until I learned about the discount Penn State provides. This, paired with the generosity of scholarships from both my high school and Penn State, allowed me to move forward.” 

Smith and Sykes were accompanied by Kate Shaw, deputy secretary and commissioner for postsecondary education for the Pennsylvania Department of Education; Steven Nunez, president of Penn Highlands Community College; Joseph Slifko, professor of business management at Penn Highlands Community College; Chris Brussalis, president of Point Park University; and Bahar Hanna, president of Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania.  

In his testimony, Smith highlighted Penn State’s commitment to access and affordability for all students; the University’s overall economic impact on the commonwealth; Penn State’s unmatched capacity to educate and train the state’s future workforce; the need for further investment in the University; and the University’s work to control tuition costs across Penn State campuses.  

Sykes used his testimony to tell the committee about all the opportunities he’s taken advantage of while at Penn State to expand his knowledge and worldview. He also stressed the importance of college affordability for his peers and urged the committee to increase their support for Penn State and its peer institutions.  

College affordability 

The informational hearing gathered Pennsylvania higher education leaders to discuss the current and future state of college affordability across a wide range of institutions. Members of the committee heard testimony from the participants about the struggles and successes of their institutions surrounding college affordability, and how their efforts could be bolstered by actions taken by the General Assembly. 

“Penn State’s mission has always been to provide affordable and accessible world-class education to all who seek it,” Smith said. “Tuition increases across Penn State campuses have been below national averages for over a decade. When calculated in 2024 dollars, Pennsylvania resident students now pay less tuition for a Penn State education than they did in 2011-12.” 

Penn State’s balanced 2025-26 budget is highlighted by a third straight year of tuition freezes for approximately 18,000 Pennsylvania resident undergraduate students at the Commonwealth Campuses, representing 43% of the University’s in-state undergraduate population.  

In addition to tuition freezes for in-state students at the Commonwealth Campuses, Penn State has worked to keep tuition affordable at University Park by implementing modest 2% tuition increases for Pennsylvania resident undergraduates last year, this year and again in 2025-26.

Penn State furthers its mission of student success by reaffirming its commitment to accessibility through increased central funding used for student financial aid, which totals $450 million in 2024-25 and will increase by an additional $5 million for 2025-26. 

Higher education funding 

Testimony also focused on the state’s role in appropriating funds for higher education institutions throughout the state, including Penn State’s annual general support appropriation, which is approved by the General Assembly and governor every year.  

General support funding for Penn State has remained flat at $242.1 million since 2019-20. That funding, divided equally among Penn State’s 42,000 in-state undergraduates, amounts to an average of $5,789 per student — funding that Penn State significantly amplifies, with the average Pennsylvania student paying $15,809 less for tuition annually than a nonresident student. 

To match the per-student funding levels of Pennsylvania’s other public universities, who receive between $3,700 and $4,700 more per in-state student than Penn State, an additional $156 million in General Support funding would need to be appropriated to the University. 

“I can’t speak as much for other universities, but Penn Staters contribute more to their communities than they get out and they are change-makers in the classroom, on the field, and in all other college relations,” Sykes said. “When we have well-supported students, we have a well-supported, prosperous and more educated commonwealth.” 

Penn State’s Board of Trustees recently approved the University’s 2025-26 appropriation request, which includes $30 million in increased funding for the University’s general support appropriation. This funding would be used to support Penn State’s academic mission and help to offset the cost of tuition for  Pennsylvania-resident students and their families. 

Penn State’s requested appropriation would be in addition to any funds awarded to the University as part of the commonwealth’s forthcoming performance-based funding model, which is expected to be enacted for the 2025-26 funding cycle after the commonwealth’s new Performance-Based Funding Council determines specific criteria.  

Commonwealth impact 

As the commonwealth’s sole land-grant institution and flagship research university, Penn State has the capacity to impact communities throughout the commonwealth unlike any other institution. 

"Penn State recently conducted an independent economic impact study that clearly demonstrates investing in Penn State is a good investment for Pennsylvania,” Smith said. “Penn State's $12.1 billion economic impact supports and sustains 81,278 jobs throughout the state. For every $1 in state appropriations received, Penn State returns $15.77 to the state’s economy and directly returns $1.71 in tax revenue.” 

Annually, Penn State educates more than 50,000 Pennsylvania resident students  — inclusive of undergraduate, graduate and professional students — across 24 physical campuses and its online World Campus.  

Additionally, nearly 20% of Penn State’s out-of-state and international students choose to stay in Pennsylvania after completing their degrees. These students start businesses, enrich established industries, and contribute to communities as taxpayers, volunteers and citizen leaders.  

Hearings, conversations and advocacy efforts will continue throughout the next nine months as Penn State works to achieve its first increase in state funding in six years in late June 2025. Those interested in helping advocate for increased funding or following along with the budget process are encouraged to become Penn State advocates by joining Advocate Penn State.