Penn College sees unexpected increase in state budget

Williamsport, Pa. — On July 11, Gov. Josh Shapiro approved the 2024-25 Pennsylvania budget, which includes a $4 million increase in state appropriations for Penn College — a 13% increase compared to last year.

In the College's 2024-25 budget, approved by the Board of Directors on June 27, the Board only anticipated a 5% increase.

This brings the College's state appropriation funding to a total of $33,971,000.

“We are delighted to see enhanced funding from the Legislature and Gov. Shapiro that validates our unique applied technology approach, which produces graduates who are always in great demand by the Commonwealth’s employers,” President Michael J. Reed said. “Despite steep increases in the cost of equipment and consumables for our 150-plus state-of-the-art academic labs, we have not increased tuition the past two years.

“This additional funding will enable us to increase access to higher education – and mitigate associated costs — for many Pennsylvanians seeking family sustaining jobs in high-demand occupations. As evidenced by our 97.7% graduate placement rate and our exceptional return on investment — which continues to be at or near the top among public institutions statewide for the 10- and 15-year periods after graduation — a Penn College degree can be a passport to prosperity.”

The president also noted that the college’s offerings — both degree and workforce development programs — align directly with the five key industry sectors spotlighted in the governor's ten-year strategic plan for economic growth: agriculture, energy, life sciences, manufacturing, and robotics & technology.

Patrick Marty, the college’s chief government and international relations officer, also praised the elected officials’ recognition that the college’s time-tested educational model — which emphasizes hands-on learning in industry-standard labs, offering students real-world workforce experiences — entails additional costs.

“We appreciate the realization by legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle, and by Gov. Shapiro’s administration, that applied technology education is an expensive endeavor,” Marty said. “We have seen other schools in this space forced to close their doors this year. Even with this increase in appropriation, we remain reliant upon industry for facilities and equipment, consumables and scholarship support.”

Marty further noted that the college’s uncommon mission also earned it specific inclusion in several other budget-related policy initiatives, including the state’s Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program and the Grow Pennsylvania Scholarship Grant Program. Both are also expected to be signed into law by the governor.

The former would award grants to public institutions offering tuition-free dual-credit opportunities to high school students enrolled in a school entity, which includes school districts, area career and technical schools and charter schools. The latter would offer grants of up to $5,000 per year for in-state students who attend college in Pennsylvania, pursue a degree in a high-demand industry, and agree to live and work in that industry in Pennsylvania after graduation.