Harrisburg, PA – Secretary of Administration Neil Weaver today announced new benefits to foster professional development for Commonwealth employees and make it more affordable to send their children to college.
Lebanon Valley College (LVC) is offering a 15 percent per-credit rate discount on tuition for select graduate degree and certificate programs at the college’s campus in Annville, Lebanon County, online, or through a hybrid format. This discount is available to eligible Commonwealth employees and their dependents.
Shippensburg University (Ship) will grant full-time Commonwealth employees who have gained relevant professional experience through their public service with graduate credits toward a Master of Public Administration. Employees with one year of experience may be eligible for three credits and those with at least three years of work experience may be eligible for up to six credits toward their MPA degree. Ship is also waiving the internship requirement for all Commonwealth employees, regardless of their length of service. Commonwealth employees can learn more about the university’s MPA program at a networking event in Harrisburg on December 4.
“The Shapiro Administration is committed to supporting Commonwealth employees with benefits to help them grow professionally in their careers and support their families at home,” said Secretary Weaver. “Providing access to affordable higher education helps us maintain a skilled workforce in state government and makes it possible for more Pennsylvanians to pursue their dreams of going to college. The Commonwealth thanks Shippensburg University and Lebanon Valley College for joining us to offer tuition benefits to our workers and their dependents.”
“This arrangement makes graduate education more accessible to the more than 80,000 full- and part-time Commonwealth employees and their families. LVC’s programs offer flexibility and online options for upskilling and career advancement,” said Lebanon Valley College President James M. MacLaren. “Those who are looking for graduate programs or certificates that add value through personal attention from expert faculty will find LVC to be a good fit.”
"Shippensburg University is proud to advance this collaboration and expand our commitment to serving the workforce needs of the Commonwealth. By integrating a credit for prior learning pathway into our MPA program, we are expanding access for dedicated public servants and honoring their diverse journeys in meaningful ways. Their professional expertise will bring new depth to our classrooms and elevate the conversations that shape future leaders. This initiative is an investment in the people who power public service, and I am grateful to the strategic leadership of our faculty and our collaboration with the Secretary of Administration," said Dr. Nicole Hill, Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Shippensburg University.
Governor Shapiro has prioritized expanding opportunities for Pennsylvanians who want to serve the Commonwealth and attracting highly qualified and motivated individuals to careers in public service. On his first day in office, the Governor signed an executive order emphasizing skills and experience in state hiring so that qualified applicants without a college degree can compete for more open jobs. Last year, the Governor established the Hire, Improve, Recruit, and Empower (HIRE) Committee to continue to focus on building a stronger, more competitive Commonwealth workforce to address the rapidly evolving needs of Pennsylvanians.
Since Governor Shapiro took office, 11 institutions of higher education have come forward to extend education benefits to Commonwealth employees or Commonwealth employees and their dependents. The Commonwealth currently offers the following education benefits:
- Central Penn College offers a one-time $1,000 scholarship, distributed over the first three academic terms, to eligible Commonwealth employees who enroll in a program and complete three terms of study.
- Elizabethtown College offers a 15 percent discount on all undergraduate and graduate programs for Commonwealth employees and their dependents.
- Harrisburg University of Science and Technology offers a 25 percent discount on tuition for on-campus graduate and certificate programs for Commonwealth employees, a 10 percent discount off the tuition rate or training fee for on-campus graduate degree or certificate programs for dependents of Commonwealth employees, and a 10 percent discount for undergraduate or graduate online degree programs for both.
- Holy Family University offers a 25 percent tuition discount and waived application fees for Commonwealth employees and their spouses.
- Peirce College offers a 25 percent discount on all undergraduate and graduate programs for Commonwealth employees.
- Penn State Harrisburg offers a 15 percent discount on tuition for all graduate programs at the university’s campus in Middletown, Dauphin County, and online for Commonwealth employees and their dependents.
- Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) offers an interest rate discount of 0.25 percent for Commonwealth employees who are a borrower or co-signer on new PA Forward loans.
- Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) Global Online offers a 20 percent discount on tuition for their online undergraduate, master’s and certificate degree programs to eligible Commonwealth employees.
- Russell Sage College offers a 10 percent discount on tuition for designated online graduate degree programs for Commonwealth employees and their dependents.
- University of Pennsylvania offers a 25 percent discount on tuition for its Master of Public Administration and Executive Master of Public Administration programs for Commonwealth employees.
- York College of Pennsylvania offers a 15 percent tuition discount for the College's graduate and professional programs for Commonwealth employees, and a $6,000 per academic year tuition discount on four-year degree programs for dependents of Commonwealth employees.
- Commonwealth employees may qualify for loan forgiveness through the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
To learn more about working for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, visit Employment.pa.gov to view and apply to current job openings, receive notifications about new vacancies in their field, and see all the Commonwealth benefits available to employees.