Letter to the editor: Problems with PASSHE schools

I’m amazed that the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) can’t figure out why students don’t want to go its schools. As a long-term Pennsylvania resident and a parent whose child attends college out of state, let me clarify what I think the problems are:

1. Pennsylvania state colleges are among the most expensive in the nation.

2. Most of the schools started as teacher’s colleges, so they offer limited majors and do not have as many majors that get students jobs. Look at what Pennsylvania state schools offer and compare it to neighboring state schools. There is no comparison.

3. Many neighboring state schools offer “in state” tuition as well as academic price guarantees. It is often more cost-effective to go out of state. As important, the out-of-state schools base their financial aid solely on the FAFSA. Pennsylvania requires its own financial aid application as well, which asks for additional information that affects financial aid.

When my child and I were looking at colleges, once Pitt and Penn State were not schools of interest, Pennsylvania had nothing to offer. Ohio had numerous affordable schools with various majors of interest. We ended up going there. I have three co-workers who were looking at the same time. All of them ended up at Ohio schools.

Perhaps PASSHE needs to talk to Pennsylvania families.

Sarah L. Schlieper

Ross