<p>Penn State is a “state-related” school, not a state-owned school. Penn State’s ruling body is independent of the state legislature and controls its own destiny (or, at least, makes its own decisions). The state provides funding for students (overall, the state provides about 10% of the annual revenue for PSU and Pitt), and so, the school is a “public” university, but it is NOT owned by the state. PSU employees are NOT state employees. This is the same arrangement as Pitt and Temple.</p>
<p>PA DOES have a state-owned and controlled network of universities - those are called the PASSHE schools (PA State System of Higher Education). These schools all started out as normal schools, colleges intended for teacher education. There are 14 of those schools - Bloomsburg, West Chester, Slippery Rock, Indiana University of PA, California University of PA, Edinboro, Millersville, Lock Haven, Clarion, et al.</p>