HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) announced that the Shapiro
Administration has awarded $14 million in grant funding to 15 public institutions of higher education.
Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) is a local recipient of $1,000,000. This funding was
awarded to enable more high school students to enroll in dual credit programs across the
Commonwealth, giving them more opportunities to chart their own course and prepare for successful
careers.
“Dual credit programs open doors for students to get a head start on college and career success,” said
Acting Secretary of Education Dr. Carrie Rowe. “By investing in these opportunities, we’re helping more
young people—especially those historically underrepresented in higher education—access in-demand
courses that lead to credentials and careers our workforce needs. It’s about expanding opportunity and
creating pathways to a future they choose.”
Dual credit programs improve student outcomes by enabling them to take college courses and earn
credits for both high school and college – while still in high school. Dual credit offerings improve
academic achievement, high school graduation rates, college enrollment, and college completion rates.
To enable more underrepresented students, access to dual credit programs, in July 2024 the School
Code established the Dual Credit Innovation Grant Program. The purpose of the program is to provide
funding for public colleges and universities to increase capacity to provide dual credit courses.
Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal builds on his commitment to creating prosperous
pathways for learners across the Commonwealth. The Governor’s proposed 2025-26 budget includes
continued support for public higher education, calling for a $13 million increase for community colleges,
a $40 million increase for PASSHE universities, and $60 million to be distributed via performance-based
funding for Pitt, Penn State, and Temple.
NPRC will make dual enrollment courses free for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 academic years and will
expand offerings in science, technology, engineering, math, and continuing education coursework.
Additionally, the College plans to expand course offerings through our Runways Program and
asynchronous courses, develop career pathways and work-ready certificates to be earned for students
while still in high school, develop certificates in emerging technical areas, and continue advancing
towards accreditation with the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP).
Vice President of Academics, Dr. Ben Malczyk, shared, “These grant funds can be transformational for
individual students, schools, and our region. Using these funds will enable NPRC to provide increased
opportunities, especially career-aligned opportunities for all students. The impact of this grant will be
seen as more students access affordable college and career pathways with no debt. What makes our
effort unique is the collaboration with more than 20 school districts and career and technical education
centers across all ten counties in our service area.”
About NPRC: Northern Pennsylvania Regional College (NPRC) is authorized by the PA Department of
Education to award associate degrees and certificates in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. NPRC is an
open-admission, two-year institution of higher education. The College’s mission is to provide affordable
and accessible post-secondary education to the residents of northern Pennsylvania. NPRC brings
affordable education to a 10-county region (Cameron, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, McKean, Potter, Tioga,
Venango, and Warren). With flexible scheduling options at numerous instructional locations as well as
remote, attending Northern Pennsylvania Regional College is an excellent option for individuals
interested in furthering their education close to home or who need flexibility in their educational
journey. With a growing team of high-quality industry-leading instructors directing our classrooms,
students are empowered by a welcoming community to change their lives and brighten their futures.
NPRC is a candidate for accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
https://regionalcollegepa.org.
