Penn State leaders weigh cutting 12% of academic programs this fall

Penn State University could slash 12% of its undergraduate academic programs this fall if school leaders follow through with preliminary recommendations to eliminate low-demand offerings.

Forty-nine of Penn State's 403 baccalaureate and associate degree programs are potentially on the chopping block after a months-long review of the university's academic programs and portfolio, officials shared this month.

Discussions will continue throughout the summer, with final decisions expected by the fall semester. The university has employed the consulting firm McKinsey & Company Education Practice to assess its academics and organizational functions.

"Higher education is changing, and we must rise to the occasion," Penn State Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos said in a statement. "A full accounting of our academic offerings, and a commitment to an ongoing cycle of program reviews moving forward, are critical parts of the work we all must do to position our students, and Penn State, for long-term success."

The commonwealth campuses would bear the brunt of cuts; 39 programs could be slashed at these campuses.

At the main University Park campus, 10 programs could be cut, including three in education, two in the earth and mineral sciences, two in information sciences and technology, two in liberal arts and one in science. The full list of programs that are potentially up for closure is available on the university's website.

Nine of the impacted programs currently enroll no students and 11 have already submitted formal teach-out proposals, enrollment holds or both. Twenty-six would continue to be offered but through another college.

About 900 undergraduate students currently are enrolled in the 49 programs, or 1.3% of the student body.

They would be cut for various reasons, including low student demand, combined employment opportunity and realignment. Demographic changes, enrollment declines, stagnant state funding and rising costs all played a role in the preliminary recommendation, Mr. Sotiropoulos said.

It isn't clear how much money the university would save by ending the programs. Penn State is currently operating under a $9.9 billion annual budget.

"Higher education is in a complex environment, and we are not immune to the numerous challenges of the moment,"Mr. Sotiropoulos said.

The decision would follow a growing trend in higher education as more universities reevaluate their offerings according to costs and enrollment.

Two years ago, West Virginia University slashed 28 majors, including all of its world language majors, and more than 140 faculty positions as it faced a mounting deficit. WVU leaders now report stable finances.

Pennsylvania Western University, a state-owned school with three campuses in Western Pennsylvania, is considering an end to dozens of offerings, with a final decision expected in June.

And Syracuse University announced earlier this month it would eliminate 93 low-enrollment programs.

Penn State's decision will come on the heels of a controversial move to close seven commonwealth campuses that have battled financial and enrollment challenges. Three of these campuses - New Kensington, Fayette and Shenango - are in Western Pennsylvania.

The impacted campuses will shutter in the spring of 2027.

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 11:17 PM.