(The Center Square) — For higher education in Pennsylvania, legislators say they’ve made progress in recent years, but lowering costs and improving access remain high priorities.

The impetus to do more they justify through a common benefit for the commonwealth.

“It’s about giving folks a hand up and making that investment in our future,” Rep. Paul Takac, D-State College, said.

He pointed to “several key wins” from the recent state budget.

“We created new scholarship programs to help get more students in the most in-demand careers like teaching and nursing,” he said. “We’re beginning to redesign and build a higher education environment that really does put students first.”

That environment, though, can be challenging for students, leaders, and politicians alike

Kate Shaw, deputy secretary and commissioner for postsecondary education at the Pennsylvania Department of Education, noted the state has high student debt loads, but is 49th in appropriations per student nationally. It’s also not integrated like many other state systems.

“We are among the most decentralized higher education sectors in the country,” Shaw said.

Affordability, state funding, and the decentralized approach are all related, she argued.

Other problems are less financial and more of a mindset issue. The variety and different needs of Pennsylvania means a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work.

“The assumption that everybody needs or wants a four-year degree — that is not borne out in any data in any state,” Shaw said. “Let’s meet people where they are, bring education to them, make it affordable, and show why it’s gonna pay off.”

Rep. Jesse Topper, R-Bedford, argued he didn’t want to put too much of a burden on higher education to fix everything that ails the state, but commended officials for responding to concerns from the General Assembly.

“I appreciate the work that this university has done, what we see in the legislature when you talk about the balanced budgets and the things you’re doing; we do our part to restore that trust,” Topper said. “I think we’re going to see good things moving forward … We’re gonna continue to work moving into the future because we understand it changes the trajectory and lives.”