College Affordability and Transparency Act (Act 69 of 2024)

On July 17, 2024, Pennsylvania enacted new legislation aimed at increasing financial transparency in higher education. The College Affordability and Transparency Act (Act 69 of 2024) requires colleges and universities to provide students with comprehensive financial information. Additionally, the law establishes mandatory financial aid exit counseling for students completing their final term.

Under the new transparency requirements, colleges and universities must now make all mandatory student fees available on their websites before each academic term begins. This online information needs to explain why each fee exists and detail how the collected funds will be used. This disclosure allows students to understand their financial obligations before the fees are assessed.

Requirements & Resources

Publish online all mandatory fees online before the beginning of the academic term during which the fee will be applied and reflected on the tuition bill.

Publish online the total amount of mandatory fees collected from the previous academic year, along with a detailed description of each fee and its purpose.

Academic year 2024-2025 Aggregate Fees

Technology Fee: $3,135,000
Wellness Fee: $1,270,435
Activity Fee: $1,513,800
Orientation Fee: $649,092
Business Fee: $107,520
Engineering, Science, or Health Program Fees: $2,121,510

Total aggregate fees for academic year 2024-2025: $8,797,357

In order for students to make fully informed decisions when selecting an institution of higher education, they need to be aware of the costs associated with attending that institution for the duration of their program.  Section 2005-H requires each institution of higher education to provide the following information to prospective students:

Requirements & Resources:

First year tuition, both mandatory and optional fees, a breakdown of room and board choices, and the costs for books and supplies. This is an estimated total Cost of Attendance (COA).

Financial aid offered by the institution, including details on whether financial aid is renewable each year and the requirements for renewal in subsequent years.

Available student employment opportunities.

The net cost of attendance (total costs minus scholarships and grants) along with an estimate of the overall cost for future years.

A record of tuition from the previous academic year, along with projected tuition and fee estimates for each year until the student completes their major.

  • See tables below

Institutions must provide financial aid exit counseling to students at the end of their final academic term, unless a student elects not to participate. Federal Student Aid (FSA) Federal Loan Exit Counseling does not supplant this requirement. Counseling may be in-person or online, and IHEs may partner with the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency or a similar entity. 

Requirements & Resources

Listing of available federal and state programs, including relevant websites and contact details, that can help with student loan payments, reductions, or forgiveness.

Listing of all student loan repayment options, along with a link to an online student loan repayment calculator, if available.

The start date for student loan repayment and details on how to postpone repayment.

Institutions to make exit counseling available to each student at the end of the student’s final academic term.

Historical and Estimated Future Costs

*These future costs are estimated based on a 4% cost increase beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Tuition & fees are set by the Board of Trustees each spring and may be different from table projections.**

Direct or IndirectCosts2024-252025-262026-272027-282028-29
Direct CostTuition$63,930$66,810$69,482$72,262$75,152
Direct CostFees$1,050$1,110$1,154$1,201$1,249
Direct CostHousing & Meals$17,220$18,180$18,907$19,663$20,450
Indirect CostBooks & Supplies$1,000$1,000$1,040$1,082$1,125
Indirect CostPersonal Expenses$1,500$1,500$1,560$1,622$1,687

*International students COA includes health insurance; current health insurance cost for 2024-25 is $2,794.
** Forward-looking increases are based on a rounded 5-year trailing average.
*** Students in certain programs and majors are assessed an additional $870 fee (Engineering and Science fee, Arts and Sciences fee or Health fee).

*These future costs are estimated based on a 4% cost increase beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Tuition & fees are set by the Board of Trustees each spring and may be different from table projections. These costs are based on 18 credits per year.

Direct or IndirectCosts2024-252025-262026-272027-282028-29
Direct CostTuition

$11,340

$11,880

$12,355

$12,849

$13,363

Direct CostFees

$830

$830

$863

$898

$934

Direct CostHousing & Meals

$18,040

$18,040

$18,762

$19,512

$20,293

Indirect CostBooks & Supplies

$600

$600

$624

$649

$675

Indirect CostPersonal Expenses

$1,400

$1,400

$1,456

$1,514

$1,575

* Forward-looking increases are based on a rounded 5-year trailing average.

*These future costs are estimated based on a 4% cost increase beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Tuition & fees are set by the Board of Trustees each spring and may be different from table projections. These costs are based on 18 credits per year.

Direct or IndirectCosts2024-252025-262026-272027-282028-29
Direct CostTuition

$28,620

$29,880

$31,075

$32,318

$33,611

Direct CostFees

$830

$830

$863

$898

$934

Direct CostHousing & Meals

$18,040

$18,040

$18,762

$19,512

$20,293

Indirect CostBooks & Supplies

$600

$600

$624

$649

$675

Indirect CostPersonal Expenses

$1,400

$1,400

$1,456

$1,514

$1,575

* Forward-looking increases are based on a rounded 5-year trailing average.

*These future costs are estimated based on a 4% cost increase beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Tuition & fees are set by the Board of Trustees each spring and may be different from table projections. These costs are based on 18 credits per year.

Direct or IndirectCosts2024-252025-262026-272027-282028-29
Direct CostTuition

$24,120

$25,200

$26,208

$27,256

$28,347

Direct CostFees

$830

$830

$863

$898

$934

Direct CostHousing & Meals

$18,040

$18,040

$18,762

$19,512

$20,293

Indirect CostBooks & Supplies

$600

$600

$624

$649

$675

Indirect CostPersonal Expenses

$1,400

$1,400

$1,456

$1,514

$1,575

* Forward-looking increases are based on a rounded 5-year trailing average.