Penn State seeks to add 800 students at its main University Park campus as branch campus enrollment sags

Penn State trustees plan a nearly $225 million addition to the university’s five-year capital plan to fund endeavors that include a new classroom building to support a planned 800-student expansion at University Park.

The move from 9,200 to 10,000 incoming students is envisioned to take place over several years. Student demand remains high at University Park, even as Penn State’s Commonwealth campuses have seen enrollment losses for reasons including a drop in students within the traditional ages of 18 to 22.

The additional $224.7 million in spending brings the capital plan to just over $2.4 billion.

Hit hard by double-digit enrollment losses over the past decade and a half, Penn State’s branch campuses and their students approached a new academic year in August knowing that 10% of their faculty and staff had taken buyouts starting in June.

In the face of declining enrollment and budget deficits, Penn State consolidated the oversight of some of its branch campuses along with paring its payroll.

The Fayette County and New Kensington campuses now fall under the direction of Regional Chancellor Megan Nagel at the Greater Allegheny campus in McKeesport.

The plan approved Friday includes a center for manufacturing competitiveness at Penn State Behrend’s Knowledge Park to further business and technology ties with area employers. Also envisioned is a renovation to the START Lab at University Park and renovations to a microchip packaging clean room.

“Ultimately, the capital plan is designed to promote and support student success at all of Penn State’s locations, as well as the vital research and other activities happening across our campuses,” said Sara Thorndike, senior vice president for finance and business/treasurer.

Meanwhile, the planned expansion at University Park could push its enrollment above 50,000 for the first time in Penn State’s history.

More state money

At the meeting, trustees also approved a state appropriation request for the 2025-26 academic year that includes a $30 million increase in its current $242 million general support subsidy. It would bring state aid per Pennsylvania student there closer to what the 10 state-owned universities as well as the University of Pittsburgh and Temple and Lincoln universities already receive, Thorndike said.

“The $30 million would be spent on financial aid, student success, talent retention for faculty and staff, asset preservation and strategic investment in areas like engineering, IT, health care and education that are priorities for the commonwealth,” Thorndike told trustees meeting at University Park.

Additional targeted funds requested for areas including agricultural research and extension, Penn State Health and the medical center and Pennsylvania College of Technology bring the total appropriation request to $391.5 million.

2025 tuition set

Penn State switched recently to a two-year budget model, so what students will pay in tuition in fall 2025 is already set.

“This appropriation request does not impact what the board already approved,” spokeswoman Lisa Powers said. “There will be no tuition increase for in-state undergraduates at the Commonwealth Campuses for 2025-26, and there will be a 2% tuition increase for in-state undergraduates at University Park.”

The board announced that, earlier Friday, it held an executive session in accordance with the state Sunshine Law to discuss behavior by an unidentified trustee inconsistent with the board’s bylaws.

“At this time, no other information will be shared,” Penn State spokeswoman Lisa Powers said.