In his new blog, State System of Higher Education Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino writes that the state-owned universities have regained their affordability advantage, leading to an increase in first-generation students, transfer students, and Pell Grant students. Further, he says the State System enjoyed record retention rates this academic year.
The chancellor says the State System is “directly fueling the state’s talent pipeline” at a time when “there are not enough equipped, qualified individuals for the roles our businesses, nonprofits, and public agencies need to thrive.”
Fiorentino references State System research finding that for every dollar received in state appropriations, Pennsylvania gets eight dollars in return.
The blog appears just before the State System’s turn in budget hearings in Harrisburg. The hearing schedule in Harrisburg is being handled differently this year. The Senate Appropriations Committee will take testimony from four State System schools rather than the System as a whole. Administrators from Millersville, East Stroudsburg, West Chester, and IUP, will appear before the committee on Tuesday. Then, Fiorentino will represent the State System before the House Appropriations Committee on March 11th.
The chancellor’s blog:
https://chancellorfiorentino.blogspot.com/2026/02/affordability-matters.html
