These Colleges Are Reason to Bet on Pennsylvania in 2025

Thomas P. Foley, a former college president, is president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, writes:  

We’re optimistic about the promise of 2025 and, for this new year, we’re betting on Pennsylvania. Here’s why: The state is on an upswing and benefiting from a stellar reputation as a magnet for talent. If that comes as a surprise to you, here are facts and stories from 2024 you might have missed about how independent nonprofit higher education is transforming Pennsylvania and setting us up for success in 2025. Pennsylvania is the second most popular destination in the United States for out-of-state first-year college students, and 2 in 3 of those students move here to attend one of the state’s 85 independent nonprofit colleges and universities (called the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania). Why are students choosing Pennsylvania over alternatives such as Florida or California?