Penn State Main Has Most Expensive Public In-State Tuition Costs, According To New Website
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Penn State is number one in public in-state tuition costs, according to a new website from the U.S. Department of Education.
Congress passed the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 and called for colleges to be more accountable for rising tuition. A July 1st deadline was then set for the Department of Education to create a website for parents to compare costs and hold colleges accountable for rising tuition.
So, according to the new website, based off of figures colleges reported to the federal government, of the 32 most expensive public schools for in-state tuition, Penn State's 20 campuses are on the list, with main campus on top. Students at University Park paid a little more than $8,000 more than the national average.
Jeff Rushton, university spokesman, said Pennsylvania colleges get less money from the state than many schools get from their respective states.
"Penn State, among flagship public universities is one of, if not the, lowest in terms of public funds per full-time student," Rushton said. "Without state appropriations to support it, naturally the only other way to make that up is through tuition."
With state funding being cut even more, Rushton says they're hopeful cost cutting measures can trim tens of millions off their budget.
"Hopefully translating that into moderate to low, tuition increases."
The University of Pittsburgh was listed as the second most expensive for public in-state tuition, only a few hundred short of Penn State Main. Pennsylvania College of Technology came in at 13.
The the website is collegecost.ed.gov.
Reported by Tim Jimenez, KYW Newsradio
