On June 7, 2024, Senator Jay Costa and Representative Peter Schweyer introduced SB 1248 and HB 2398 which would lower college costs for students, help students build skills they need to find good-paying jobs and build a life in Pennsylvania, reinvest in publicly funded colleges and universities, improve coordination between institutions of higher education, help close workforce shortage gaps by helping more Pennsylvanians earn college credentials, attract more people to PA and keep them in PA, and serve as an economic driver for generations to come.
The legislation includes three elements that when taken together will address the longstanding challenges faced by the higher education sector by: creating a State Board of Higher Education to increase coordination between higher education institutions in order to increase accessibility, fill critical workforce gaps, and train students for the jobs Pennsylvania needs while maintaining local control; investing in publicly funded colleges and universities to help them reach their full potential via a predictable, transparent funding formula that will align state dollars with the needs of the Commonwealth; and making college more affordable by ensuring that Pennsylvanians making up to the median income pay no more than $1,000 in tuition and fees per semester at state-owned universities and community colleges.
The plan also increases Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) state grants by $1,000 for students from a family that makes up to the median income, bringing the maximum award up from $5,750 to $6,750 beginning in FY2025-26.
According to the National College Attainment Network (NCAN), Pennsylvania is one of the least affordable states to attend college, with only 18% of two-year institutions and 0% of four-year institutions attainable for low- and moderate-income families. Nationally, 63% of two-year institutions and 31% of four-year institutions are affordable for that same population of students.
As tuition has increased students have turned away from Pennsylvaniaâs colleges and universities. PASSHE enrollment has dropped 30% over the past decade. Total community college enrollment has dropped by 37%, and some community colleges, PASSHE universities, and Penn State branch campuses have seen enrollment drop by almost 50% over the same time period.
The result is a significant gap between the number of jobs in Pennsylvania that require a high-quality degree or credential â such as nurses, teachers, and mental health professionals â and the number of Pennsylvanians who can fill those jobs. We currently need 61,000 more people with the right degrees or credentials to fill those open jobs, but conservative estimates show that gap will increase to at least 210,000 within a decade if we donât take action.
Governor Shapiro unveiled his blueprint in January to lower costs, increase college attainment, and close workforce gaps â and he called for higher education leaders, legislators, students, parents, and stakeholders to bring all of their best ideas to the table to build on that foundation. The plan is informed by substantial feedback from higher education leaders and other vested partners across the Commonwealth and will ensure Pennsylvania students have the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed. This legislation aims to ensure that PA’s higher education sector has the direction and support it needs to serve as an economic driver for Pennsylvania for generations to come. For more information on Governor Shapiroâs plan for higher education and proposed budget, visit shapirobudget.pa.gov.