State should act to hold tuition stable
We learned in the Monday, Feb. 24, edition of the Butler Eagle that work is underway to keep tuition stable at some Pennsylvania colleges.
Christopher Fiorentino, Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s interim chancellor, announced he would ask the legislature for $661.1 million, an increase of $40.3 million, or 6.5%, over the current year.
That would allow the schools that are part of the state system, including Slippery Rock University, to hold their tuition at $7,716 per year, the same level it’s been at since 2018.
Higher education is becoming more and more important to prepare students for careers, including those in high-tech fields. Cost can be a real barrier for many people, and efforts to keep tuition affordable are essential.
And the state system serves a lot of Pennsylvania students.
“With more than 80,000 students, 90% of whom are from Pennsylvania, PASSHE universities have the most in-state students of any four-year college or university system in the state,” according to the news release announcing the plan.
The increase is supported by Gov. Josh Shapiro.
The legislature should follow suit. It’s essential that in-state tuition remain affordable for Pennsylvania students.
A failure to do so risks the future well being of the entire state.
— JK
