An updated list of Penn State branch campus closures has spared the Hazleton and Schuylkill campuses.

On Tuesday, Penn State released a new recommendation.

The local campuses were previously among the 12 campuses considered for the chopping block.

According to a recommendation report posted on Penn State’s website, the university’s Wilkes-Barre, DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango and York campuses are being targeted to close following the 2026-27 spring semester.

Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi said, “Fulfilling our land-grant mission does not require a four-year campus in every corner of Pennsylvania,” the president wrote.

Instead, under the proposal, online classes could replace some in-person offerings and a leaner university with fewer locations could invest in the parts of Pennsylvania where Penn State believes it can still succeed.

The university’s board will meet Thursday in executive session to discuss the recommendations in the latest report. A public meeting for a vote will be held on a date to be determined.

According to the report, the campuses recommended for closure face overlapping challenges including enrollment and financial decline, low housing occupancy and significant maintenance backlog. The seven campuses enroll 3.6% of the university’s students.

“Keeping them open would require an estimated $19 million in annual financial support, $21 million in annual overhead expense, and more than $200 million in future facilities investment — resources that could be redirected to enhance and strengthen the campuses that remain,” the report notes.

If the trustees vote to close Penn State’s DuBois, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Shenango, Wilkes-Barre, and York campuses, more than 500 employees and thousands of students would be affected.

“These are not just campuses; they are homes, launching pads, and sources of deep pride. And yet … if we delay action, the pressures we face — demographic, financial, competitive — will continue to mount. In time, those forces will make decisions for us, not with the care, intention, or commitment to students and communities that this process allows,” Bendapudi wrote to trustees.

In the documents, Penn State claims that previous university administrations failed to act. Closing campuses is presented to trustees as the only viable option: “We now have an opportunity to address what’s long been understood.” The documents note that enrollments at Penn State’s smallest 12 campuses continued declining despite more than $1 billion in investments between 2010 and 2024, including $105 million under Bendapudi. Likewise, they highlight that new academic programs, digital advertising, tuition discounts, and increased support for out-of-state and international students largely failed to boost enrollments.

“The plan to close campuses was not the initial intent of this administration; rather, it was a discovered reality,” the documents say.

Hazleton and Schuylkill

The Hazleton and Schuylkill campuses, along with Penn State’s Beaver, Greater Allegheny and Scranton campuses, had been previously considered for closure but are no longer at risk.

“These campuses were identified for continued operation based on their strategic importance, financial resilience, academic offerings, regional relevance, and/or potential to absorb and support students from closing campuses,” according to the report.

According to the report, continued investment into the Schuylkill campus is recommended due to its steady, recent (3-year) growth and operational stability within a challenging demographic environment.

“Although the region’s population is currently in decline and is projected to remain so for decades, the campus is one of the only in the entire ecosystem that has seen three consecutive years of enrollment growth,” the report notes.

Furthermore, the report says that “Penn State Schuylkill’s geographic position and compact campus make it an important access point for students who might not otherwise pursue a Penn State degree.”

According to the report, while Penn State Hazleton’s enrollment is declining, it is situated in an area where population growth is expected.

“Penn State Hazleton’s diverse student population, strong operational foundation, and institutional readiness make it a compelling candidate for investment. With continued support and expanded programmatic focus, Penn State Hazleton is poised to serve as a regional access and equity leader, and as a stabilizing presence in the University’s Northeastern Pennsylvania footprint,” the report said.

Spotlight PA contributed to this report.