The Jambar
The Mahoning and Shenango Valleys will soon feel the impacts of a recent announcement made by Pennsylvania State University President Neeli Bendapudi.
Penn State Shenango, a satellite campus in Sharon, Pennsylvania, is one of 12 Penn State branch campuses marked for potential closure because of the state’s decline in population and enrollment.
Announced Feb. 25, the official decision to review and close 12 of Penn State’s 19 branch campuses will come down to a board committee’s final decision planned before spring commencement.
Out of its 19 branch campuses, seven will remain open. Those locations are centered in densely populated cities, such as Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Erie.
In an article from the Associated Press, only 6,000 students were enrolled at the 12 sites marked for evaluation last fall. The other seven institutions had a total enrollment of 17,000 students.
To protect students within smaller counties that have a branch campus, Charity Krupa, a Pennsylvania state representative from Fayette County, introduced three bills. The highlight of the proposed legislation is the State-Related University Accountability Act.
The bill would ensure state-related universities that are publicly funded are unable to close branch campuses without legislative and public input.
For many students, choosing a satellite location over the institution’s main counterpart offers the same education, but at an affordable price. Attending universities, such as the University of Pittsburgh, Kent State University or the aforementioned Penn State, poses a larger financial burden.
However, Pitt and KSU offer affordable options within proximity to affected campuses, such as Pitt Titusville and KSU at Trumbull.
If Penn State Beaver and Shenango locations are forced to close, what’s next for student’s chasing an affordable college learning experience?
One possible option is for Penn State Shenango students to attend Youngstown State University, as it’s less than a 20 minute drive from Sharon to campus. YSU’s tuition rate is also considered one of the most affordable universities in the United States.
For Penn State Beaver students, the choice is either YSU — an hour drive — Thiel College or elect to spend a higher price tag on Robert Morris University — a private institution in Moon Township, Pennsylvania.
The other claim is for students to transfer to Penn State University Park — its main campus — but its estimated $40,000 annual tuition rate for in-state residents might not be feasible.
Potential school closures like Penn State Greater Allegheny, could also pull students to YSU. It could pull attendees to surrounding campuses including Pitt’s satellite campuses or Duquesne University.
Students within the Shenango Valley have already seen a few of their potential options close. Butler County Community College at LindenPointe announced its closure March 5, shutting its doors for in-person classes.
If the marked campuses are closed, the decision will not impact local campuses until the 2026-27 academic year.