Penn State Makes Final Decision On Branch Campus Closures

PENNSYLVANIA — Penn State trustees Thursday evening voted to close seven branch campuses across the state after the spring of the 2026-27 academic year. The board voted 25-8 to accept the university administration's recommendations on the closures.

The university will continue to operate 13 branch campuses.

Collectively, the campuses slated for closure represent 3.6 percent of Penn State students, 3.4 percent of the university's faculty and 2.2 percent of its total staff.

“I know that change of this magnitude is tremendously difficult for our students and employees who learn and work on the campuses that will close,” Penn State president Neeli Bendapudi said in a statement.

“These were incredibly tough decisions, and we did not make them lightly. For many decades, our dedicated faculty and staff have educated thousands of students at these locations, and our graduates have gone on to make remarkable contributions to Pennsylvania, the country and the world.”

Penn State plans to shutter the Dubois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre and York campuses. They are among the dozen of the 20 branch campuses that initially were studied for closure along with Beaver, Greater Allegheny, Hazleton, Schuykill and Scranton.

According to enrollment statistics on the university's website, the seven campuses slated to close had 3,200 students during the fall semester. All have experienced enrollment declines of as much as 32 percent over the past five years.

The two-year closure timeline at these campuses will allow students currently enrolled — and those enrolling for the fall 2025 semester — time to complete or make progress toward their degrees. The campuses that are closing will not accept new or transfer students beyond the fall semester this year.

Penn State officials say they are committed to having local communities included in decision-making regarding the future of the branch campus properties. They suggested the campus locations have the potential to serve as regional economic zones and hubs for "innovation, development and community engagement."

The 13 remaining branch campus locations include Abington, Altoona, Beaver, Behrend, Berks, Brandywine, Great Valley, Greater Allegheny, Harrisburg, Hazleton, Lehigh Valley, Schuylkill and Scranton.

"This decision -- while challenging for this board, and difficult for members of impacted communities -- ultimately supports the continuation of our mission to provide Pennsylvanians with access to high quality education, even in a changing environment," Trustees chairman David Kleppinger said. "It positions Penn State to continue providing a top-notch educational experience to thousands of students at 13 Commonwealth campuses statewide.”

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