Penn State released final recommendations on October 12, 2026 to close 47 undergraduate programs across its campuses — 11 at the University Park flagship and 37 at Commonwealth (branch) campuses. About 784 currently enrolled students are in the affected programs, but university policy requires formal teach-out plans, so no one already enrolled loses their degree path. The cuts stop new students from enrolling in those majors going forward.

Penn State released its final Academic Program and Portfolio Review (APPR) recommendations on Monday, October 12, 2026, calling for the closure of 47 undergraduate programs out of the university's 403 total baccalaureate and associate degrees.1

The cuts are part of the same pressure driving similar moves at universities across the country this year: declining enrollment projections tied to the enrollment cliff and rising operating costs that Penn State's 2026–27 tuition increase didn't fully offset.

Which Programs Are Closing at University Park?

The 11 University Park programs recommended for closure include professional photography, geobiology, geosciences (BA), elementary and kindergarten education, middle level education, world languages education, information sciences and technology (BS), security and risk analysis, multidisciplinary studies (AA and BA), and planetary science and astronomy.2

One number that doesn't make the headlines: 24 of the 47 programs won't disappear from Penn State entirely. Those programs would continue to be offered through a different college within the university. A student interested in one of those fields could still study it at Penn State — just under a different department's umbrella.

784

That 784 figure represents about 1.1% of Penn State's 68,390 undergraduates. Nine of the 47 programs have no enrolled students at all, and 15 already have teach-out proposals or enrollment holds in place.

What Happens to Students Already Enrolled?

Nothing changes immediately.

Penn State's shared governance policy requires Faculty Senate review before Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos makes any final decisions. After that, formal teach-out plans must be developed for each closed program — meaning current students will have a clear, supported path to finish their degree over "the coming semesters," in the university's language.

No specific timeline for when closures would take effect has been announced.

If you're a prospective Penn State student and one of these programs is on your list, the window to enroll may close before your start date. Contact Penn State admissions directly to confirm whether the program you want is still accepting new students for your enrollment year.

The Campus Closure Question — The Bigger Risk for Applicants

The 47 program cuts are one story. A separate and potentially more significant development runs alongside it: Penn State is also reviewing 12 of its 19 Commonwealth campuses for possible closure. That is a distinct process from the APPR and no campus closures are expected before the end of the 2026–27 academic year.

But it creates a risk that program-cut headlines miss: a student at a Commonwealth campus might be enrolled in a program that survives the APPR cuts — and still lose access to their campus.

If you're weighing University Park against a Commonwealth location, this is a factor worth weighing carefully. Our guide on how to choose a college major and comparing college offers offer frameworks for thinking through that kind of institutional stability question alongside fit and cost.

Why Penn State Is Doing This

Penn State cited three reasons: low student demand for the affected programs, limited employment outcomes for graduates, and the need to realign its academic portfolio. Officials framed the cuts as concentrating resources on programs with stronger enrollment and career outcomes.

This is the same logic West Virginia University applied when it cut programs in 2023 — a case that showed both the risks (faculty departures, student anxiety) and potential benefits (leaner operations, clearer institutional identity).

These are recommendations, not final closures yet. The Faculty Senate review gives students and faculty a formal window to respond. Students in affected programs should contact their academic advisor now and ask for written confirmation of their degree completion pathway — not after the Faculty Senate acts.

What Applicants Should Know Right Now

Check the specific program, not just the headline. Penn State's full APPR spreadsheet lists each affected program by name, degree type, and campus. If your intended major isn't on the list, you're unaffected. If it is, ask whether new enrollment is still open for your start year.

University Park vs. Commonwealth. The 11 University Park cuts are real but narrow — they represent a small slice of a very large flagship university. The 37 Commonwealth campus cuts are broader, and the separate campus closure review adds another layer of uncertainty for students choosing a branch campus location.

The teach-out protection is real. Penn State's shared governance process requires teach-out plans for every closed program. That's a meaningful protection compared to smaller institutions that have closed programs — or shut down entirely — without structured paths for existing students.

Our Penn State admissions guide covers current acceptance rates and application strategy if you're still deciding whether to apply.

Five Steps to Take This Week

  1. Pull up Penn State's APPR spreadsheet and find your intended program's exact status.
  2. If your program is on the list, contact your academic advisor or Penn State admissions in writing and ask for confirmation of your degree pathway.
  3. Ask specifically about teach-out timelines — how many semesters will you have to complete the degree?
  4. If you're at a Commonwealth campus, ask the campus directly whether it is among the 12 under closure review.
  5. Prospective students: do not assume your intended major is safe until you confirm it with an admissions representative.

Footnotes

  1. Onward State Staff. (2026, October 12). Penn State's final APPR recommendations include closure of 47 academic programs. Onward State. https://onwardstate.com/2026/10/12/penn-states-final-appr-recommendations-include-closure-of-47-academic-programs/ ↩

  2. Penn State Daily Collegian Staff. (2026, October 12). Penn State recommends closure of 47 academic programs, including 11 at University Park. The Daily Collegian. https://www.psucollegian.com/news/administration/penn-state-recommends-closure-of-47-academic-programs-including-11-at-university-park/article_55a61a37-1cc1-4431-aa7b-be792ac9376a.html ↩