Penn State Board Approves Closure of Seven Commonwealth Campuses Amid Declining Enrollment

Penn State University's Board of Trustees voted 25 to 8 to close seven of its 19 Commonwealth Campuses—DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, and York—by the end of the spring 2027 semester due to declining enrollments and financial challenges. President Neeli Bendapudi described the decision as strategic and necessary to focus resources on growth rather than subsidizing decline, citing a 43% enrollment drop over the past decade at the affected campuses. Despite the closures impacting over 3,000 students and more than 500 employees, Bendapudi emphasized honoring faculty contracts and minimizing harm through a two-year wind-down period. Governor Josh Shapiro expressed confidence in Penn State leadership, acknowledging the tough choices needed to plan for the university's long-term future, while committing to support affected communities. However, critics including state legislators and some trustees argued the decision was rushed, lacked sufficient community input, and could harm local economies and Penn State's mission to serve rural areas. The debate highlighted tensions between financial sustainability and the university's land-grant mission to serve diverse communities across Pennsylvania.