<p>@awesome - here is my basis for saying that. The state funding is currently $185.4M and the tuition difference is currently $9408 in Arts and Sciences. Therefore, the state covers the tuition subsidy for up to 19,707 full-time-equivalents (FTE).</p>
<p>The 2012 university fact book lists 25,707 FTE from Pennsylvania attending all campuses. That means the state isn’t covering the tuition subsidy for everyone from PA. I could refine this estimate but I don’t feel it would change the conclusion.</p>
<p>There are 6,543 FTE on all the branch campuses, and I assume the vast majority are in-state. If the tuition subsidy erodes further, their pool of students will dry up and they would have to close. The numbers indicate that the state is not directly supporting branch campuses; the support is indirect through tuition subsidy, which allows in-state students to atttend.</p>