The figures — compared to enrollment in fall 2019, almost five years ago — vary widely among the 19 “Commonwealth campuses,” according to an analysis of Penn State data.
Enrollment ranged from an increase of 3% at Penn State Schuylkill — the only branch campus where enrollment increased, in a county without a community college presence — to a drop of 37% at Penn State DuBois.
Here are the enrollment figures and the change vs. 2019 for all 19 branch campuses:
Branch campus
Fall 2023 enrollment
Change vs. 2019
Schuylkill
650
+3%
Lehigh Valley
954
-2%
Harrisburg
4,651
-5%
Brandywine
1,223
-8%
Scranton
838
-14%
York
704
-15%
Beaver
504
-16%
New Kensington
456
-16%
Wilkes-Barre
353
-17%
Abington
3,095
-17%
Shenango
332
-17%
Hazleton
510
-18%
Greater Allegheny
361
-18%
Erie
3,323
-19%
Mont Alto
588
-19%
Altoona
2,421
-21%
Berks
1,944
-22%
Fayette
419
-29%
DuBois
353
-37%
Source: abc27 analysis of Penn State University data
Across all branch campuses, enrollment is down 14% compared to 2019. By contrast, enrollment at the main University Park campus in state college — 49,135 as of fall 2023 — is up 4% compared to fall 2019.
Nathan Benefield, senior vice-president of the Commonwealth Foundation, a libertarian-leaning think tank, said the buyouts are a good start but might not be enough for a university system that remains overstaffed.
“People don’t want to see layoffs or involuntary retirements,” Benefield said. “But the reality is, universities exist for the education of students, not for the employment of adults.”
He said at some point, the university will have to consider closing underenrolled and underperforming campuses.
Might that happen?
“It is premature to forecast until we spend time deeply engaging with our campus communities and the leadership team to define a sustainable future for the commonwealth campuses,” the university’s term for branch campuses, a spokesperson said in a statement. “The possible impacts of this program and any subsequent actions to be taken will depend on many factors, including how many employees participate, impacts on a department or program and potential additional changes to Penn State’s financial health, among others.”
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