Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has released a new blueprint for higher education in the state, focused on competitiveness and workforce development, and grounded in access and affordability.
Gov. Josh Shapiro
“Every Pennsylvanian deserves the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed,” said Shapiro, noting that 30 years of disinvestment has left many colleges and universities slim in finances and few students with affordable pathways through college and into good jobs.
Pennsylvania spends less on higher education than every other state except for New Hampshire, according to the Governor’s Office. That means the financial burden of higher education falls on the state’s institutions and students, who are forced to cut services, raise tuition, and take on more debt.
Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) enrollment has dropped 30% and community college enrollment has decreased by 37% over the past decade, officials reported. Colleges are competing with one another for limited dollars — duplicating degree programs, driving up costs, and reducing access.
Shapiro brought together a working group of higher education leaders and engaged stakeholders across the Commonwealth to examine these significant challenges and offer recommendations for a path forward. The result of their input is a three-part blueprint for higher education:
1. Creating a new system to address Pennsylvania’s needs
