Editor's note: The following op-ed by Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi, Temple University President John Fry, and University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Joan Gabel first appeared in PennLive on Thursday, June 4.
After years of bipartisan work, Pennsylvania stands on the verge of transforming how it invests in higher education. But with the state’s June 30 budget deadline just weeks away, that progress remains at a pivotal point. Without funding this year for the state’s new performance-based funding model, we risk losing momentum — and with it, a key opportunity to strengthen the commonwealth’s workforce, economy and long-term competitiveness.
As leaders of Pennsylvania’s three largest public universities — Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh and Temple University — we see every day what is possible when higher education and government work together.
Last fall, officials in Harrisburg took a historic step forward by creating the first-ever performance-based funding model for Penn State, Pitt and Temple. Developed with widespread bipartisan support between the General Assembly, the governor and our universities, the model ties additional state funding to metrics that prioritize strong student outcomes, access and affordability, workforce development, and meaningful community impact. It reflects a shared commitment to accountability and results.
Creating the model was only the beginning, however. The governor’s proposed budget includes a $30 million allocation to fund the model — the critical next step after two years of collaboration.
For Pennsylvania students and families, this is about opportunity. Increased state funding helps keep tuition as low as possible and expands access to high-quality education. For employers, it strengthens the pipeline of skilled graduates needed to grow and compete. And for the commonwealth, it aligns taxpayer dollars to outcomes that drive workforce readiness and economic growth. It also enables our universities to invest in high-demand programs, expand hands-on learning and career pathways, and connect graduates to jobs in their home communities.
We are grateful for the General Assembly’s continued support of our Pennsylvania resident students. With additional resources through performance-based funding, we can expand our impact and deliver an even greater return on the commonwealth’s investment.
Our institutions are powerful engines of opportunity and growth, generating $33.5 billion in combined annual economic impact across Pennsylvania and supporting jobs, businesses and regional economies in every corner of the state.
Our researchers drive innovation in vital sectors, including energy, healthcare, agriculture and technology — attracting a combined $3 billion in research funding to our state in the last fiscal year alone. These dollars support jobs, advance learning and discovery, and make lives better across the commonwealth, while extending knowledge and expertise into communities that rely on us as partners in progress.
Most importantly, our universities prepare the talent that powers Pennsylvania’s future. Together, we graduate approximately 35,000 students annually, including 21,000 Pennsylvanians. Many of these students help to meet the state’s workforce needs in high-demand fields such as nursing, teaching, engineering, technology, business, public service and more.
These contributions reflect the lasting impact of sustained investment in higher education. Our ability to continue delivering meaningful results for Pennsylvania is grounded in a strong partnership with the commonwealth and reinforces the importance of aligning future investment in our students, researchers and communities with the outcomes Pennsylvanians expect and deserve.
Increased investment, grounded in performance-based metrics, is one of the most effective ways to retain our homegrown talent, helping our graduates build their lives and careers — and Pennsylvania’s future — right here.
The urgency is heightened by a simple reality: state funding for all three of our institutions has remained flat since the 2019-20 fiscal year, even as costs across every sector of society continue to climb.
This is about more than a single year’s budget. It is about establishing a predictable and recurring funding model that aligns resources with results — providing transparency and accountability for taxpayers while giving universities the stability to plan for the long term. Other states have implemented similar funding models for higher education with success, linking investment to outcomes that matter.
Pennsylvania now has the same opportunity. We respectfully urge our partners in the General Assembly to fund the performance-based model this year and into the future. By doing so, we can expand opportunities for students across the commonwealth and position Pennsylvania as a national leader in higher education and workforce innovation. Together, we can empower the next generation of leaders, strengthen our economy, and create a brighter, more prosperous future for every Pennsylvanian.
Neeli Bendapudi
President, Penn State
John Fry
President, Temple University
Joan Gabel
Chancellor, University of Pittsburgh