Running the Numbers on Pennsylvania's State-Related Universities

The Pennsylvania State University, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple University and Lincoln University are known as state-related universities and are part of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education. While these universities receive funding from the Commonwealth and are connected to the state through their board of trustees, they operate independently and not subject to any state control.

The Joint State Government Commission produces annual reports on the four state-related universities. After reading this year’s reports, I decided to dissect the numbers and translate them into easy-to-read graphs and charts. It is important to know how our tax dollars and tuition dollars are being spent in higher education, especially as we face workforce shortages, a dip in college enrollment, and an exodus of college graduates from Pennsylvania to states with more opportunity.

So, here are the numbers…