Pennsylvania Western University, the state school formed in 2022 by merging three struggling universities, continues to see its student population fall, while overall, the state university system saw new student enrollment growth for the second consecutive year.
Across the system, seven of the 10 universities reported growth in their first-time student populations between 2022 and 2023, and half of the universities saw overall enrollment increases, according to data released by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education on Monday.
East Stroudsburg, located in the Poconos in Northeast Pennsylvania, benefited from the largest boosts in both areas. Its new student population increased over 21% and its overall enrollment jumped 6%.
Systemwide new-student enrollment is up over 3%, the second consecutive year of freshman growth.
“I am so happy,” Chancellor Daniel Greenstein told the Post-Gazette. “Very excited about that.”
But overall enrollment still dropped, with PennWest’s being the most dramatic. Between fall 2022 and 2023, overall enrollment plunged from 12,778 students to 11,305 at PennWest, an 11.5% drop.
The school’s freshman drop was more pronounced — between 2022 and 2023, the first-time student head count dipped 20.5%, from 2,035 new students to 1,617.
These numbers could signal that, despite the system’s attempt to revive PennWest’s three campuses, more students continue to choose different educational or post-high school options. Over a year ago, the state system consolidated California University of Pennsylvania, Edinboro University and Clarion University to form PennWest after the three state schools battled declining enrollment and financial challenges for years.
In 2014, California, Edinboro and Clarion collectively enrolled over 20,500 students. The student population has since dropped nearly 45%.
Mr. Greenstein told the Post-Gazette that it’s been a “tough year” for the financially depleted university, yet expressed confidence in the school’s future.
“PennWest had a tough year,” Mr. Greenstein said. “...The numbers aren’t great, but I look at what they’re doing, and I think we’re seeing progress.”
And though PennWest battles enrollment drops, other state universities in Western Pennsylvania reported growth between 2022 and 2023.
The Indiana University of Pennsylvania saw its first year-to-year enrollment increase in over a decade. Overall enrollment grew by almost 5%, while new student enrollment jumped 16%. IUP enrolls 9,254 students this fall.
Slippery Rock University reported a 1.4% increase in its student population between 2022 and 2023. Its new student enrollment grew by over 5%. Slippery Rock’s fall 2023 enrollment is 8,362.
Mr. Greenstein attributed growth across the system in part to the cost of a state school education. This summer, the system’s 10 universities froze tuition for the fifth year in a row. Annual tuition is $7,716.
The chancellor also thinks the state schools could be seeing post-COVID recovery and restored faith among Pennsylvania residents.
“It’s been on us to really make sure that we are expressing the value and demonstrating the value that we [have],” he said. “I think that has some part to play as well.”
Other universities that reported drops in their overall head counts included Commonwealth, West Chester, Millersville and Kutztown universities. Kutztown and Millersville also saw drops in their new student numbers.
The state system’s total enrollment is 82,688 this fall compared to 84,567 last fall, a 2% drop.
Since 2014, enrollment at the state universities has fallen nearly 25%. The system’s total head count was over 109,000 in fall 2014.
Maddie Aiken: maiken@post-gazette.com
First Published: October 9, 2023, 4:00 p.m.
Updated: October 10, 2023, 12:49 a.m.
