HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania now has its first statewide strategic plan for higher education in more than two decades after the State Board of Higher Education voted unanimously on Thursday to adopt a roadmap aimed at improving affordability, boosting degree attainment, and strengthening the state’s workforce.
What This Means for You
- The plan sets statewide goals to make college more affordable and increase degree and credential completion.
- It links higher education funding and coordination more closely to workforce and economic needs.
- The board says implementation will begin immediately.
The newly adopted plan, titled Driving a Prosperous Pennsylvania: A Statewide Agenda for Higher Education, is intended to align colleges, universities, and technical schools under a shared framework for economic and workforce development.
Governor Josh Shapiro said the plan builds on reforms initiated two years ago when the Commonwealth created the State Board of Higher Education.
“This strategic plan – developed with extensive input from the higher ed sector – reflects exactly the kind of bold, commonsense vision we need to drive systemic, impactful, and lasting change to make higher education in Pennsylvania more affordable and accessible,” Shapiro said.
Six Core Goals
The plan is anchored in six broad goals, including:
- Increasing postsecondary attainment, meaning the number of residents earning degrees or industry-recognized credentials.
- Creating more affordable pathways to postsecondary education.
- Supporting the Commonwealth’s economic and workforce development needs.
- Improving accountability and the efficient use of state funds.
- Strengthening the fiscal health and long-term stability of colleges and universities.
The board said the plan was shaped by feedback from more than 1,300 Pennsylvanians through a public engagement process.
Postsecondary education refers to education beyond high school, including community colleges, technical schools, four-year universities, and credential programs.
Economic Focus
The plan is based on the premise that affordable, high-quality education contributes to economic growth by preparing residents for family-sustaining careers.
Board Chair Dr. Cindy Shapira said the strategy will move quickly into implementation.
“The Board will move quickly to implement the strategic plan, it will not sit on a shelf and collect dust,” Shapira said.
Stakeholder groups across the education and business sectors expressed support for the board’s approach.
The Pennsylvania State Education Association said it appreciated the “extensive public outreach and ongoing stakeholder engagement” involved in developing the draft plan.
The Chester County Economic Development Council said the plan “appropriately centers the economic and workforce needs of the Commonwealth,” adding that Pennsylvania’s prosperity depends on providing the skills needed to fuel the economy.
Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Board of Trustees said the plan affirms “the essential role of higher education in meeting Pennsylvania’s workforce needs—both statewide and regionally.”
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education said it looks forward to continued collaboration to ensure higher education remains “a powerful driver of opportunity, workforce readiness, and economic growth in Pennsylvania.”
Next Steps
Created in 2024, the State Board of Higher Education was tasked with providing leadership and coordination across the higher education sector to advance economic development and educational outcomes.
With the strategic plan now formally adopted, board members say the focus will shift to implementation, coordination among institutions, and tracking progress toward the plan’s stated goals.
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