Public Universities and Colleges in Pennsylvania: Systems, Flagships and How Admission Works

Three Separate Public College Systems

Pennsylvania runs three distinct types of public colleges, and each has its own funding source, governance and admission bar. The split explains why tuition and selectivity vary so much between public campuses in the same state, according to the Commonwealth Foundation and the Pennsylvania Department of Education .

PASSHE: The State-Owned University System

The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) owns and runs 10 universities directly. Two are the product of 2022 mergers: Commonwealth University combines the former Bloomsburg, Lock Haven and Mansfield campuses, and PennWest University combines the former California, Clarion and Edinboro campuses, according to PASSHE .

The full roster: Cheyney, Commonwealth University, East Stroudsburg, Indiana, Kutztown, Millersville, PennWest University, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock and West Chester.

In-state tuition for 2026-27 is $4,169 a semester, or $8,338 a year, after a $172 per semester increase that followed seven straight years of frozen rates, per Kutztown University's announcement . Starting fall 2027, PASSHE plans to cover remaining tuition for in-state undergrads who qualify for both a federal Pell Grant and a PA State Grant, under the new PASSHE Pledge .

Admission at PASSHE schools is largely open. Most campuses accept most applicants who meet basic GPA and coursework requirements, and many review applications test-optional, weighting high school grades and course rigor over standardized test scores.

State-Related Universities: Penn State, Pitt, Temple and Lincoln

Four universities hold "state-related" status: Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and Lincoln University. The commonwealth gives each an annual appropriation, but each operates as an independent nonprofit that sets its own tuition, admission standards and governance, per the Commonwealth Foundation .

These four host the state's largest and most research-active campuses, and their tuition sits well above PASSHE rates. For 2026-27, Penn State's flagship at University Park charges $20,878 a year in tuition and fees for in-state undergrads, a 2% increase, according to StateCollege.com . Pitt's Oakland campus charges $21,594-$38,176 in tuition depending on school or college, plus $2,152 in mandatory fees, per Pitt's tuition office . Temple's Main Campus charges $19,608 a year in base tuition for 2025-26, per Temple University .

Admission at the flagship campuses runs more competitive than at PASSHE schools, especially in nursing, engineering and business. Penn State and Pitt both run smaller regional campuses across the state with easier admission, useful if you want to start closer to home or transfer into the flagship after two years. Penn State's Discover Penn State Award discounts tuition for out-of-state residents of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington D.C. who enroll at a campus other than University Park.

Community Colleges: The Low-Cost Starting Point

Pennsylvania has 15 community colleges spread across 80 locations, enrolling roughly 245,000 students from all 67 counties, according to the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges .

Community colleges accept nearly every applicant with a high school diploma or equivalent, and they charge the lowest tuition of any public option in the state. Complete an associate degree, then transfer the credits into a PASSHE or state-related university to finish a bachelor's degree, often cutting two years off the higher-tuition portion of your degree.

PASSHE Enrollment Is Growing

PASSHE enrollment reached 83,000 students in fall 2025, its first systemwide increase in more than a decade, with retention hitting an all-time high of 81%, according to PASSHE . About 89% of PASSHE students come from Pennsylvania, and community college transfers into the system rose 14.3% that year. Cheyney University posted the sharpest growth, with new freshman enrollment up 144%.

How to Apply at Each Tier

Penn State, Pitt and Temple accept applications through the Common App as well as their own portals, and each sets its own supplemental essays and deadlines. PASSHE universities typically use their own free or low-cost online application rather than the Common App, and several offer rolling admission, so you get a decision within weeks rather than months. Community colleges use open enrollment: submit an application, send transcripts, and register for placement testing or advising, with no essay or recommendation letters required.

Whichever tier you target, request your official high school transcript early and check each school's specific deadline for the term you want, since PASSHE, state-related and community college calendars do not line up with each other.

Which Type Fits Which Student

Pick a community college if cost matters most and you want to stay near home for the first two years. Pick a PASSHE university for a four-year degree at the lowest public sticker price and a smaller campus. Pick Penn State, Pitt or Temple if you want a large research university, a specific competitive program, or a nationally recognized name, and your family budget or aid package covers the higher tuition.