BLUE BELL, Pa (PTTP) – On Friday, Governor Josh Shapiro proposed a $1,000 tuition cap per semester at Pennsylvania state-owned universities. This is in response to PA’s higher education system being ranked as one of the worst in affordability.
Governor Josh Shapiro proposed steps toward fixing a state higher education system that’s among the worst in the nation in affordability. Shapiro plans to do this by asking for a $1,000 cap on tuition per semester for families earning up to $70,000. He also calls for a $1,000 increase to the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency grants that can be used at state-related and independent colleges. The plan would also coordinate state-owned university degree programs with community colleges, as “every Pennsylvanian deserves the freedom to chart their course and opportunity to succeed”, as Shapiro puts it. Chancellor of the state system, Dan Greenstein, has said for years that Pennsylvania needs to drastically increase the number of adults with degrees for its economy to keep pace with that of other states. The proposal is also a part of the governor’s reorganization of PASSHE, which includes most state-owned universities. Enrollment in PASSHE has been down in the past decade, but this could change. According to Shapiro, the initiative will focus on “competitiveness, workforce development, access, and affordability”. With just about every conceivable ranking there is, PA has landed near the bottom. The question of the state’s higher education aid, student debt size, and affordability is at its breaking point.
The state’s university system has been underfunded in the past three decades. Pennsylvania spends significantly less on higher education compared to most other states. Governor Shapiro is looking to fix this affordability with his bold new plan. Hopefully, this cap is just the start for the state of PA.