Tuition Hikes On The Way For 10 PA Universities

PENNSYLVANIA — Tuition will rise this year at the 10 Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities.

The increase was approved Thursday by the organization's board of governors.

For 2026-27, in-state undergraduate tuition will increase by $172 per semester. The new tuition rate will be $4,169 per semester, or $8,338 for a full academic year.

Even with the tuition hike, the 10 state schools will have the lowest university tuition in Pennsylvania.

“Every dollar counts for our students, and while we would prefer to freeze tuition as the board did for seven years, we kept this increase as low as possible,” said Cynthia Shapira, chair of the board of governors.

"If the state provides sufficient funding, the board is committed to rolling back the rate.”

The board also announced the establishment of a system-wide "PASSHE Pledge," a last-dollar scholarship initiative to cover remaining tuition costs for in-state undergraduate students who receive both a federal Pell Grant and a PA State Grant.

Under the pledge, eligible students across all 10 PASSHE universities would pay no out-of-pocket tuition costs after federal, state and institutional aid is applied. Fees, books, housing and meals are not included.

The board sets in-state undergraduate tuition rates. Each university sets graduate and out-of-state undergraduate tuition rates, along with student room, board and mandatory fees.

In a news release, the system asserted it has taken significant steps to protect affordability for student and families, including:

• Saving $700 million since 2019 through efficiency improvements and cost controls.

• Providing more than $160 million annually in university-funded aid that directly reduces student costs.

• Expanding emergency aid programs to help students overcome financial hardship and stay on track to graduation.

The 10 schools in the state system are:

• Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

• Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania,

• East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

• Indiana University of Pennsylvania
• Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

• Millersville University of Pennsylvania,

• PennWest University

• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
• Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

• West Chester University of Pennsylvania

About 83,000 students attend PASSHE universities.