Pa. college tuition likely to rise with or without state aid - Stacy Brown, PA Independent

Before Gov. Tom Corbett even announced plans to reduce funding to the State System of Higher Education during his budget address this week, recent trends dictate that tuition would rise. Tuition has risen annually during the past decade, while enrollment has increased steadily. In addition, salaries for faculty and staff members have increased modestly during the same time. The steady increases in tuition and salaries have occurred regardless of whether the State System of Higher Education, or PASSHE, schools receive state funding. To make higher education more affordable, Corbett has created a new higher education panel to help find ways to accomplish this goal. During the past 10 years, PASSHE’s state funding has increased five times and decreased five times, peaking in 2007-08 at $484 million. In 2011-12, the state provided $412.7 million in funding, compared with $452.7 in 2001-02, according to PASSHE.