Penn State report outlines reasons for keeping Scranton campus open
In a report issued Tuesday, officials said the campus in Dunmore is worth investing in because of 'its regional significance, operational soundness, and capacity to serve as a primary hub for Northeastern Pennsylvania' and suggested it serve as the primary anchor for the region.
The report highlights investments in the campus, including the renovated mechanical engineering labs, nursing suite and library. It points out the mechanical engineering program is growing and the nursing program is regionally respected.
The campus unveiled a $13.1 million renovation of the library and nursing facilities last fall and dedicated a new mechanical engineering building in late 2022.
Officials acknowledged in the report that the campus has experienced declining enrollment but remains viable for future growth and investment, adding that being in Lackawanna County puts it in a position to serve a dense and diverse population.
'Unlike many campuses facing demographic headwinds, Penn State Scranton benefits from proximity to growing suburban communities and school districts and access to major highways, making it a logical anchor for Penn State's presence in the region,' the report states. 'The area's demographic profile also includes significant populations of first-generation and lower socioeconomic status students, aligning with Penn State's access mission.'
The campus enrolled 827 students for the fall semester, 88% of which live in Pennsylvania and nearly 55% of which reside in Lackawanna County, according to enrollment information from the university. Enrollment has dropped nearly 27% in 10 years and 40% from its peak of 1,388 students in 2010, according to the report.
Of those students, nearly 42% are Pell Grant recipients, 16% are underrepresented minorities, almost 46% are first-generation college students and nearly 17% are student athletes.
While on-campus housing isn't offered, the report states the campus has strong connections to local school districts, employers and transfer pipelines, characteristics that the report said makes it particularly well suited to support dual enrollment growth, regional partnerships and hybrid academic models.
'Penn State Scranton's leadership has demonstrated both vision and effectiveness,' it concludes. 'The campus has consistently engaged in University-wide planning and collaboration efforts, and its openness to innovation positions it well to adopt new delivery models or share administrative services with other locations. Faculty and staff have embraced Penn State's goals, and the campus community has maintained a strong culture of adaptability and student-centeredness.'
Elizabeth Wright, regional chancellor for the campus and the ones in Hazleton and Wilkes-Barre, said in an emailed statement Wednesday that while there has been no official decision by the Board of Trustees regarding campus closures, the recommendation to keep the Scranton campus open and invest in it was based its location near major interstates and metropolitan areas, demographics and the significant number of first generation and low income students.
She added the campus' mechanical engineering and nursing programs are two areas with strong potential based on community needs and trends.
'The campus has already made significant investments in those programs over the past several years, most recently with the Mechanical Engineering Building, new Nursing Suite and Library Building renovations,' Wright said in the statement. 'We believe Penn State Scranton enhances Penn State's mission and provide meaningful impact to northeast Pennsylvania.'
Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi announced in February that some commonwealth campuses will be closing, and she will decide which ones by the end of the semester, with no campus closing before the end of the 2026-27 academic year.
The announcement stated that 12 of the university's 19 campuses — including Scranton and three others in Northeast Pennsylvania, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and Schuylkill — were under review.
Media outlets reported this week that the president recommended closing the DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York campuses. Officials publicly shared the full recommendation report regarding the campus closures Tuesday night following the reports.
Trustees will meet privately Thursday to continue discussing the proposal, SpotlightPA reported.
Elected officials and community leaders in Lackawanna County have called for Penn State Scranton to remain open, citing its importance to the region and the students it enrolls.
Reached for comment about the report Wednesday, Bob Durkin, president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, said he was happy to hear the campus could remain open.
'I'm pleased that Penn State has decided to continue that investment and to recognize the financial, economic and workforce value of Penn State Scranton,' he said.
Durkin said the campus is top for nursing and mechanical engineering, job fields that are forecasted to grow in the region. Penn State Scranton also employs people from the area on its campus.
'They've provided us with assistance and direction on how do they and we help grow the workforce and the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania,' Durkin said.
He said the campus allows students to access a Penn State education locally and it fits in well with the higher education ecosystem in Northeast Pennsylvania.
'Penn State is an absolutely first-class institution and that's an experience that you can only get if you're in a commonwealth campus,' Durkin said. 'I'm looking forward to Penn State University Park continuing to follow up on those words and continuing to invest as necessary.'
In addition Penn State Scranton, the report outlines reasons for keeping the Hazleton and Schuylkill campuses open.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNBC
07-08-2025
- CNBC
Education Department launches key college financial aid form sooner than expected
The U.S. Department of Education is making the Free Application for Federal Student Aid available earlier this year, which experts say may address some of the bugs that have plagued previous application cycles. The FAFSA serves as the gateway to all federal aid money for college-bound students, including federal student loans, work-study and especially grants. The 2026-27 FAFSA is already available to a limited group of students in a beta test. Starting on Sept. 1, anyone can request to participate in the second phase of testing, according to an announcement from the Education Department. All students will have access to the coming academic year's form at the beginning of October, in keeping with the typical start date. More from Personal Finance:These college majors have the best job prospectsFamilies feel confident about paying for college, until tuition bills arriveStudent loan borrowers: How will the end of the SAVE plan impact you? Tell us "We're pleased to hear that Federal Student Aid has launched FAFSA beta testing sooner than expected," said Melanie Storey, president and CEO of The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. "An earlier and longer testing window will give the Department of Education the time it needs to address any potential bugs or errors, with valuable feedback from applicants and financial aid professionals, which should lead to a smoother process when the application is opened to the broader public," Storey said. Kim Cook, CEO of the National College Attainment Network, said she was "pleased" that beta testing for the new FAFSA is already underway and that the new FAFSA is on track to open to the public on Oct. 1. "All these positive changes portend that the high school class of 2026 will achieve an all-time high FAFSA completion rate by the time they graduate next spring," Cook said. For many families, financial aid is essential when it comes to covering the cost of college, which has jumped significantly in recent decades. Grants — including federal ones such as the Pell Grant — have become the most crucial kind of assistance because they typically do not need to be repaid. The earlier families fill out the form, the better their chances are of receiving aid, since some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, or from programs with limited funds, experts often say. Submitting a FAFSA is one of the best predictors of whether a high school senior will go on to college, according to the National College Attainment Network. Seniors who complete the FAFSA are 84% more likely to enroll in college directly after high school, according to an NCAN study of 2013 data. Yet, only 71% of families submitted the FAFSA for the 2024-25 academic year, down from 74% in the previous academic year, according to Sallie Mae's recent How America Pays for College report. That's in part because of previous complications with the new form, which initially launched in late December of 2023 after a monthslong delay. "Families reported having an easier time completing the FAFSA last year, but 58% indicated they still needed assistance, so having a head start can be beneficial especially for first time FAFSA filers," said Rick Castellano, a spokesperson for Sallie Mae.
USA Today
21-07-2025
- USA Today
Penn State's NIL Strategy: How Penn State's NIL strategy is evolving in the transfer era
Let's be real — in 2025, college football isn't just about schemes and stars anymore. It's about money. And if your NIL game isn't right, you're going to fall behind. That's why Penn State's recent push in the name, image, and likeness world is a huge deal for the program's future. It starts with the faces of the team. Drew Allar, Nicholas Singleton, Abdul Carter before he left — those guys were top-dollar targets for NIL. And now, younger stars like Tony Rojas and Jameial Lyons are starting to see those deals come in too. But Penn State's approach isn't just about paying the top guys. It's about rewarding the full roster. Through partnerships with collectives like Happy Valley United, players are getting deals that support them year-round — not just the Heisman hopefuls. Whether it's car deals, merch drops, or small business collabs, the Nittany Lions are finally treating NIL like the major recruiting and retention tool it is. The best part? It hasn't fractured the locker room. Penn State's done a solid job making NIL feel like a team thing, not a 'me-first' thing. Coaches like James Franklin have emphasized that NIL opportunities are earned, not handed out. That's kept guys motivated and hungry without letting money become a distraction. And when players like Allar and Kaytron Allen decide to come back instead of jumping early to the NFL, you know NIL's part of that. It gives guys real incentives to stay, grow, and lead. That matters in a world where the transfer portal is a revolving door. NIL has helped Penn State hold onto talent and avoid mass exodus seasons like other big programs. Where PSU Stands Nationally Are they leading the nation in NIL spending? No. But Penn State isn't trying to play the same game as Texas A&M or Miami. They're playing smart and building something sustainable. More importantly, they're figuring out how to sell that message to recruits. When a four-star kid from the South sees guys thriving in Happy Valley — getting paid and developing — that changes the perception. Suddenly Penn State feels modern, competitive, and invested. The next step? Keep growing the infrastructure. More transparency. More partnerships. More consistency. And with the Big Ten turning into a mega-conference with coast-to-coast visibility, the opportunity to market players is bigger than ever. NIL isn't just about surviving anymore — it's about thriving. If Penn State continues this trend, they'll stay in that top-tier conversation year after year. Talent will come. Talent will stay. And the culture won't get compromised. That's how you build a winner in 2025.
Business Insider
18-07-2025
- Business Insider
Trump is beginning to implement his sweeping student-loan repayment changes
Student-loan borrowers will soon start seeing changes to the way they borrow and pay off their loans. After President Donald Trump signed into law his tax and spending bill, which included major changes to student-loan repayment, the Department of Education announced it was beginning to implement some of the new provisions. The department wrote in a July 18 letter that "many" of the changes in the spending law will be implemented on July 1, 2026, including the creation of two new income-driven repayment plans. However, the department said it is working with student-loan servicers to roll out a series of changes before then: No longer requiring borrowers to have partial financial hardship to qualify for an income-based repayment plan; Expanding options for borrowers who took out parent PLUS loans to enroll in an income-based repayment plan; Reducing the amount a student can borrow if they're enrolled in a program that is not full-time; And delaying the implementation of former President Joe Biden's borrower defense to repayment and closed school discharge regulations. If a borrower believes they were defrauded by the school they attended, they can apply for borrower defense, and if their claims are approved, their loans will be forgiven. Biden's administration attempted to make the process easier for borrowers to navigate, but it was blocked in court and never implemented. Acting Undersecretary James Bergeron said in a Friday statement that Trump's spending bill "delivers for student borrowers in a big way — simplifying the student loan repayment system, funding the $10.5 billion shortfall in Pell Grant funding left by the previous administration, supporting short-term career focused programs that train workers for in-demand jobs, and holding colleges accountable by eliminating student loan eligibility for programs that leave students worse off than if they had never enrolled." "Today's announcement is the first step in the implementation process, and we look forward to building the President's vision for education and training beyond high school," Bergeron said. The department's letter also said that it is amending the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which forgives student debt for government and nonprofit workers after 10 years of qualifying payments, to allow payments made under a new income-driven repayment plan to count toward forgiveness. Trump's spending bill eliminates existing income-driven repayment plans and replaces them with two options: a standard repayment plan and a new Repayment Assistance Plan, which sets borrowers' monthly payments at 1% to 10% of their income, with any remaining balance forgiven after 30 years. The options are less generous than the SAVE plan, which the bill eliminates. SAVE would have allowed for cheaper monthly payments with a shorter timeline to debt relief. The department announced on July 9 that interest charges will restart on the balances of the 8 million borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan. The department said more information on changes to repayment from the spending bill will be announced in the coming weeks and months. They come as the administration is working to dismantle the Department of Education; the Supreme Court ruled on July 14 that Trump can proceed with firing department staff.
