Penn State Board Of Trustees Approves 2025-26 Fiscal Budget

Penn State’s Board of Trustees approved the budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The budget, which will take effect on July 1, 2025, was advanced by the board’s Committee on Finance, Business, and Capital Planning on Thursday.

During the vote, multiple trustees, including Ted Brown, argued that Penn State should freeze tuition for in-state students at the University Park campus. Though the motion passed, trustees Brown, Matt McGloin, Barry Fenchak , and Anthony Lubrano voted against the budget.

For in-state students at the University Park, the board voted to increase tuition by 2%, while out-of-state students will pay an additional 4%. Out-of-state students at the university’s Commonwealth Campuses will pay an extra 1% on their tuition, though in-state students won’t see any increase.

The committee also voted for a 3% pool (totaling $83 million) for Penn State’s employees’ annual salary increases. Recently, Penn State agreed to a deal with Teamsters Local Union 8 to avoid a strike and give Teamsters employees 20% raises over the next four years.

The committee also approved central funding used for student financial aid by $5 million, bringing Penn State’s total financial aid to more than $455 million for 2025-26.

Beginning with fall 2025 appointments, the committee approved a 4% bump in stipends for graduate students.

In the food and housing budget, the board approved an increase in University Park housing rates for a traditional double room, which will bump up by $118 per semester, or 3%, to $4,039. The cost of the mid-level meal plan, the most popular option, will rise by $98 per semester, or 3.5%, to $2,901, bringing both rates to a total of $6,940.

At Penn State’s Abington, Altoona, Beaver, Berks, Brandywine, and Harrisburg campuses, the board voted to increase by $141 per semester, or 2.15%, to $6,705. The Behrend, Greater Allegheny, Hazleton, Mont Alto, and Schuylkill campuses will see a bump of $92 per semester, or 1.42%, to $6,562.