Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

What Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education does

Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) is a state-owned public university system established by Act 188 of 1982 and headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It operates 10 universities (Cheyney, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, East Stroudsburg, IUP, Kutztown, Millersville, PennWest, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester) with 14 campuses following the 2022 integration of six prior universities into Commonwealth University and PennWest. The system serves more than 80,000 degree-seeking students, with nearly 90% Pennsylvania residents, and offers 230+ degree and certificate programs across more than 530 academic areas. PASSHE confers approximately 20,000 degrees annually and maintains a 900,000+ living alumni base.

Underlying technology is built on a shared-services architecture. OneSIS, the cloud-based student information system adopted in October 2019, standardizes business processes across the 10 universities. SAP supports HR, payroll, and finance through shared services centers. Public-facing Higher Education Data Dashboards and Workforce Outcomes Dashboards consolidate enrollment, affordability, graduation, and workforce placement data; the system also publishes employer-validated competency maps for six in-demand industries.

Revenue mechanics combine three streams: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania state appropriations (FY 2026-27 request of $651.8 million, a 5% increase over a base that has grown 30%+ since 2021), student tuition and fees ($7,994 in-state undergraduate tuition for 2025-2026, frozen since 2018, with technology fees of $496-$804 and mandatory fees of $2,416-$4,458), and auxiliary services from housing ($3,206-$12,609) and meal plans ($2,910-$5,264). Customer segments span Pennsylvania residents pursuing four-year degrees, community college transfer students (nearly 59,000 transfers since 2010), first-generation college students, working adults seeking workforce credentials, and Pennsylvania employers in healthcare, education, advanced manufacturing, technology, agribusiness, energy, and finance/insurance. Distribution runs through 10 universities plus community college transfer pathways, the Google Career Certificates partnership, and work-based learning pilots with anchor employers including Highmark Health, Ellucian, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, and Commonwealth Agencies.

Name

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education

Legal name

Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education

Website

https://passhe.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) is a state-owned public university system operating 10 universities and 14 campuses, serving over 80,000 degree-seeking students with 230+ degree and certificate programs across Pennsylvania.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Cooperative Education (Co-op) Technical Universities (EDAHAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Public higher education
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Workforce credentials training
• University system administration
• Transfer pathway education

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrisburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. State Appropriations: PASSHE receives state funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The system requested $651.8 million for fiscal year 2026-27, a 5% increase. State investment increased by more than 30% in recent years, with $370 million in one-time funds.
2. Student Tuition and Fees: In-state undergraduate tuition is $7,994 for 2025-2026. Technology fees range from $496 to $804. Mandatory fees range from $2,416 to $4,458. Out-of-state tuition ranges from $8,234 to $19,986.
3. Auxiliary Services: Revenue from housing and meal plans. Housing plans range from $3,206 to $12,609. Meal plans range from $2,910 to $5,264.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) operates 10 state-owned public universities delivering undergraduate and graduate degree programs, certificate and micro-credential offerings, and workforce-aligned training across Pennsylvania. The system serves more than 80,000 degree-seeking students with 230+ degree and certificate programs across 530+ academic areas, awarding approximately 20,000 degrees annually.

Product overview

Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) is a public university system consisting of 10 state-owned universities serving over 80,000 degree-seeking students. The system operates as a unified platform of educational institutions offering degree programs, workforce-aligned credentials, and micro-credentials. Key products include public data dashboards for institutional metrics (affordability, enrollment, graduation rates, workforce outcomes), workforce-aligned credential programs, work-based learning initiatives, and the Google Career Certificates partnership. PASSHE's integrated data infrastructure includes OneSIS (shared student information system) enabling cross-institutional academic program access. The system also provides shared services (HR/Payroll, Finance, IT, Procurement) across all universities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs
• Graduate Degree Programs
• Workforce-aligned Credentials Programs
• Micro-credentials and Digital Badges
• Work-based Learning (WBL) Pilot Program
• Google Career Certificates Partnership
• Higher Education Data Dashboards
• System Data Dashboards

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates earn 65% more over careers, nearly $1 million in additional income vs. high school diploma holders
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Highmark HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2024Anchor employer in work-based learning pilot program. Advisory committee member providing guidance for WBL opportunities and broadening student access to experiential learning. Part of pilot with five State System universities targeting over 1,000 students.
• ElluciancoreTechnology or Integration · 4 March 2024Anchor employer in work-based learning pilot program. Provides advisory guidance for expanding WBL opportunities for PASSHE students across Pennsylvania employers.
• Hershey Entertainment & ResortscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2024Anchor employer in work-based learning pilot program. Advisory committee member helping expand student access to paid experiential learning opportunities.
• Commonwealth AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 March 2024Anchor employer in work-based learning pilot program. Advisory committee collaboration with universities and State System leadership to review progress and ensure resources.
• GoogleflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic-private partnership between Google and PASSHE universities for technology certifications and career training in high-growth job sectors. Part of #Prepared4PA initiative.
• Pennsylvania Community CollegesflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with all 15 Pennsylvania community colleges for transfer student pathways. Nearly 59,000 community college students transferred to PASSHE since 2010. Almost all community college credits accepted; guaranteed junior admission for associate degree holders.
• Cheyney University - PSECU, AT&TminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCheyney University partnered with PSECU, AT&T, and others to launch its Workforce Enhancement Network in Cybersecurity as part of #Prepared4PA pilot programs.
• Shippensburg University - Regional Workforce DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShippensburg University's agribusiness pilot designed to address workforce demands and career pathways, developed in partnership with regional workforce development, business, and education.
• Slippery Rock UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobust safety training program contributing to workforce-aligned credentials for positions with worker shortages.
• East Stroudsburg UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer-recognized credentialing in the tourism industry through workforce-aligned programs.
• Commonwealth UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading effort to study alignment between curriculum and in-demand industry-recognized credentials. ACT 120 Municipal Police Academy and Criminal Justice Pathway Program addressing workforce shortages.
• Pennsylvania Employers (Multiple)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVarious sector partnerships including financial services, healthcare, education, advanced manufacturing, technology, and hospitality/tourism for employer-driven projects and internships.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• State University of New York (SUNY): SUNY is a large public state university system with 64 campuses serving ~400,000 students, comparable to PASSHE as a multi-campus state-owned system providing affordable four-year degrees, workforce credentials, and community college transfer pathways across New York.
• City University of New York (CUNY): CUNY is a public urban university system of 25 campuses serving ~225,000 students with a strong workforce development mandate and transfer pathways from community colleges—closely analogous to PASSHE's affordability-first, workforce-aligned model.
• Pennsylvania State University (Penn State): Penn State is Pennsylvania's other major public university system with 20 campuses and a large World Campus online division, competing head-to-head with PASSHE for Pennsylvania residents seeking four-year degrees and online credentials.
• University of Wisconsin System: The University of Wisconsin System is a 13-institution public state system serving ~165,000 students, structurally and operationally comparable to PASSHE in scale, multi-campus shared services, workforce credentialing, and tuition affordability mission.
• University of North Carolina System: The UNC System is a 17-institution public state university system providing affordable degrees and workforce credentials across North Carolina, sharing PASSHE's structure as a state-owned multi-university enterprise with consolidation, transfer, and workforce-development priorities.
• Indiana University (state system): Indiana University is a public state university system with seven campuses serving ~115,000 students, comparable to PASSHE in scale, role as a state-affordable four-year provider, and emphasis on workforce-aligned online and credit-transfer programs.
• University System of Maryland: The University System of Maryland is a 12-institution public state system serving ~160,000 students with shared services and workforce development priorities, structurally analogous to PASSHE's consolidated multi-university state model.
• Virginia Public Universities: Virginia's public university systems (e.g., Virginia Commonwealth, Old Dominion, James Madison) collectively provide affordable four-year options and workforce credentials to Virginia residents in a way comparable to PASSHE's mission within Pennsylvania.

Emerging players

• Western Governors University: WGU is a nonprofit online university serving ~150,000 students nationwide with competency-based, low-cost degrees—an emerging competitor to PASSHE's micro-credential and work-based learning offerings for working adults.
• Southern New Hampshire University: SNHU is a large nonprofit university serving ~200,000 students, with a substantial online division focused on affordable degrees and workforce credentials—a direct competitor to PASSHE for non-traditional and out-of-state online learners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/statesystem
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/statesystem
• Facebookfacebook.com/statesystem
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/passhe

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education