As the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education continues to see a decline in enrollments, West Chester University still stands as the exception, writes Ed Mahon for WHYY.
Over the past decade, enrollment at 14 state-owned universities has declined by 20 percent. The only university that has bucked the trend with an increase is WCU.
Since the fall of 2010, the number of enrollments at WCU has grown from 14,490 to 17,961.
According to PASSHE chancellor Daniel Greenstein, the reason why the majority of state-owned universities are seeing enrollments drop is the growing cost of higher education.
“Our education is increasingly unaffordable,” said Greenstein, adding that “this is a direct reflection of funding levels.”
He said that if the funding provided by the state had kept up with inflation over the last 15 years, universities that are part of the State System would have received nearly $200 million annually.
Read more about the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education at WHYY here.
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Top photo credit: West Chester University 2019ramrally4 via photopin (license)
