Governor Tom Wolf’s budget plan bumps spending on the state-supported universities – Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln – by $81 million. In return, they’re being asked to keep any tuition increases under the rate of inflation. All four have agreed though some hedged their bets based on getting the full bump in funding.
The 14 state-owned universities are also slated to get more state aid — 45 million additional dollars. The system was asked to freeze tuition in return, but the chancellor has indicated that such a commitment is impossible.
Patrick Gallagher, chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh, says he thinks any tuition hikes will be low, but he’s not committing to flat tuition. (Brad Christman)