Pa. ranks third-highest in public university tuition

(Harrisburg) — Pennsylvania has some of the most expensive public universities in the country, and an annual report from the College Board showing the cost of higher education is rising.

Since 2010, tuition at public colleges nationwide has been increasing by less than five percent each year.

That’s lower than the up to 13 percent hikes seen in the previous decade, but researchers with the College Board say students are paying more each year, because the amount of grant aid available has not been keeping pace with tuition.

Report co-author Sandy Baum said state appropriations to public universities have declined by 11 percent in the last ten years.

“In Pennsylvania, the decline in appropriations per student has been much sharper than it has been in most other states. And in fact, in Pennsylvania they appropriate less per student than in every other state except for Vermont and New Hampshire,” Baum said.

Average in-state tuition and fees for Pennsylvania’s public universities totals more than $14,000 in the 2017-18 academic year–the third highest in the country.

Penn State was the most expensive flagship public university in the country.

During prolonged budget negotiations this year, state-related universities –Penn State, Temple, Pitt, and Lincoln–threatened to raise tuition mid-year.