Pennsylvania State University is looking to close some of its 20 Commonwealth campuses in Pennsylvania to cope with enrollment declines, writes Susan Snyder for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
“It has become clear that we cannot sustain a viable Commonwealth Campus ecosystem without closing some campuses,” said Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi in a statement to the campus community Tuesday.
The three Commonwealth campuses in the Philadelphia region ― Brandywine in Media, Abington, and Great Valley, are among the system’s largest and will remain open, she said.
Other larger campuses also safe from closure are Altoona, Behrend, Berks, Harrisburg, and Lehigh Valley, Bendapudi said.
A team of administrators appointed by Bendapudi will evaluate Penn State’s other 12 campuses and make a recommendation, with a final decision to close or not coming before commencement.
No campus will close before the end of the 2026-27 year, allowing students earning an associate’s degree to finish and those earning bachelor’s degrees to compete two years before transitioning to another campus, she said.
Enrollment has been down 30 percent at the Commonwealth campuses since 2010, while enrollment at Penn State’s main campus actually grew last fall by 365 students to 42,000 students.
Find out more about Penn State’s enrollment issues in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
