Penn State Trustees Approve Closure of Seven Commonwealth Campuses Amid Enrollment Decline
The Penn State Board of Trustees has voted to close seven of its 19 Commonwealth Campuses, citing declining enrollments, demographic shifts, and financial pressures. The decision, made on May 22, 2025, passed with a 25-8 vote and is set to take effect after the 2026–27 academic year.
Campuses Slated for Closure
The campuses scheduled for closure are:
DuBois
Fayette
Mont Alto
New Kensington
Shenango
Wilkes-Barre
York
Collectively, these campuses enroll just over 3,000 students, representing less than 4% of the university’s total student body. Enrollment at these campuses has declined by 39% over the past decade, with some campuses experiencing drops as steep as 30% .
Commitment to Students and Faculty
President Neeli Bendapudi emphasized that no campus identified for closure will shut down before the end of the 2026–27 academic year. Students currently enrolled will be allowed to complete their degrees at Penn State, either at another campus or online. Faculty and staff affected by the closures will be offered reassignment opportunities within the university and provided with career transition support .
Ongoing Debate and Opposition
The closures have sparked significant debate among faculty, staff, and community members. The Penn State Faculty Alliance has described the move as the university’s “biggest employment crisis” and has submitted a petition with over 500 signatures demanding greater transparency and community involvement in the decision-making process .
Critics argue that the decision was made hastily and without sufficient input from affected communities. Some trustees and state lawmakers have expressed concerns about the impact on access to higher education in rural areas .
University’s Future Direction
Despite the closures, Penn State will retain the largest statewide presence among Big Ten and U.S. land-grant institutions. The university plans to continue investing in its seven largest Commonwealth campuses—Abington, Altoona, Behrend, Berks, Brandywine, Harrisburg, and Lehigh Valley—as well as its graduate education-focused campus at Great Valley .
President Bendapudi acknowledged the difficulty of the decision but emphasized that it is necessary to ensure the university’s long-term sustainability and ability to fulfill its land-grant mission. She stated, “We have exhausted reasonable alternatives to maintain the current number of campuses. We now must move forward with a structure that is sustainable, one that allows our strongest campuses to thrive” .
The decision to close these campuses reflects broader national trends in higher education, where institutions are grappling with declining enrollments and financial challenges. The outcome of Penn State’s plan is being closely watched for its potential implications on higher education policy and rural community development .
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