HARRISBURG — The Board of Governers for Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) raised tuition for its schools for the first time in seven years.

The board voted to increase rates at its board meeting Thursday for the 2025-2026 academic year, its first time doing so since 2018.

According to a release from PASSHE, the board would consider rolling back the rate if “the state provides sufficient funding as part of the current state budget negotiations.”

“Setting tuition now with the option to revisit the decision gives clarity to students who will start the semester next month and provides flexibility to state leaders as their budget negotiations continue,” the release said.

PASSHE requested a 6.5 percent increase in state funding to maintain its current tuition rate.

The approval would see in-state undergraduate students increase by $139 per semester to a total of $3,997 per semester. Full-year tuition will increase by $278 to a total of $7,994.

According to statistics provided by PASSHE, an incoming freshman in the 2024-2025 school year “paid the same tuition that was in place when they were in the seventh grade.”

That same student, if the tuition kept pace with inflation, would pay roughly 28 percent more, the release said.

“Every dollar counts for our students. If the state provides the funding we’ve requested, PASSHE can roll back tuition to help students with other essential expenses,” said Dr. Cynthia Shapira, chair of the PASSHE Board of Governors. “We hope this action gives those involved in state budget negotiations the time and flexibility they need to secure as much as possible for our students while allowing students and our universities to prepare for the fall semester.”

According to the release, PASSHE has made progress stabilizing its finances, in part due to increased state funding in recent years.

“Continued improvement requires resources, especially with enrollment challenges across higher education. This tuition plan balances student affordability with the long-term financial health of the university system,” according to the release.

“We know tuition decisions have a real-world impact on our students. This decision reaffirms our deep commitment to affordability and access as we transform the State System for the future,” said PASSHE Chancellor Christopher Fiorentino. “This approach to tuition honors our partnership with the governor and legislators and gives them time and flexibility to find ways to invest more in PASSHE students and universities.”

According to the release, the board must set tuition by this week to ensure students, families and universities have time to prepare for the fall semester, which begins in about six weeks.

The board determines in-state undergraduate tuition rates.

Each university established graduate and out-of-state undergraduate tuition rates, along with student room, board and mandatory fees, the release said.