Penn State Proposes Cutting 47 Undergraduate Programs

Penn State administrators have recommended eliminating 47 undergraduate programs across multiple campuses. The proposal affects about 784 of the university's more than 68,000 undergraduates, representing roughly 1.1 percent of the student body.

Programs affected and distribution

The recommended cuts span multiple colleges and cover diverse disciplines from education and humanities to engineering and technology. Nine of the 47 programs currently have zero enrolled students. Eleven programs are slated for closure at the main University Park campus.

Programs recommended for elimination include:

The cuts disproportionately target education, humanities, and social science degrees. Colleges affected include the College of Arts and Architecture, the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, the College of Education, the College of Information Sciences and Technology, the College of the Liberal Arts, the Eberly College of Science, and several Commonwealth campuses.

Process and next steps

Before final approval, the proposals will undergo review by Penn State’s Faculty Senate. Final authority rests with Provost and Executive Vice President Fotis Sotiropoulos. Fifteen programs already have formal teach-out proposals or enrollment holds in place.

The university will develop teach-out plans for affected programs over the coming semesters. About half of the 47 programs, specifically 24, will continue to be offered at another Penn State campus or college within the university.

Context and broader trends

These recommendations follow a multi-year review of all 403 of Penn State’s baccalaureate and associate degree programs. Similar program reviews have led to cuts at other public universities nationwide.

Syracuse University said it would cut nearly 100 programs in spring 2026 due to low enrollment. East Carolina University announced plans to jettison 44 academic programs around the same time. Iowa public universities put forward program cut recommendations in spring 2026 after a state mandate. In Indiana, a new state law led public universities to axe or suspend over 200 programs.

Future outlook and institutional strategy

Penn State officials also recommended promoting another 50-plus programs as strategic growth opportunities. These include bachelor’s degrees in data science, theater, petroleum engineering, anthropology, and cybersecurity.

Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos stated that regular program reviews will help the university be nimble and responsive as the world continues to change. He cited changing demographics, stagnant state support for students, and rising costs as ongoing realities. He described the effort not necessarily as a cost-cutting exercise, but as a way to identify programs that serve student needs. Faculty resources from closed programs could be reallocated to develop new programs in emerging areas.

The proposals will be reviewed by Penn State’s Faculty Senate before receiving final approval from Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos.