<p>
</p>
<p>I lived in Pennsylvania for several years (and went to graduate school at Penn State).</p>
<p>“Pennsylvania schools” means schools in Pennsylvania. “Virginia schools” means schools in Virginia.</p>
<p>“Pennsylvania state schools” or “state schools in Pennsylvania” means public institutions.</p>
<p>It’s not colloquial, it’s English. </p>
<p>We now resume our regularly scheduled programming . . .</p>