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PA State Capitol Building twilightPhoto: Ted Van Pelt · CC BY 2.0
Colleges in and near Harrisburg

Harrisburg is home to two colleges, with about 10,000 students on campus

Harrisburg Area Community College (6,841 students on campus) and Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (3,306) are inside the city. About 6% of Harrisburg’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Pennsylvania (6%).

Harrisburg University of Science and TechnologyHarrisburg Area Community College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Harrisburg. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
17,808 students on campus
Nearest college
1 mi
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
Residents in college
6%
About the same as PA (6%)
Nearest community college
1.4 mi
Harrisburg Area · $6,975 tuition
Nearest public university
9.1 mi
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg · $15,972 in-state
Median household income
$48K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Harrisburg

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 1.4 milesHarrisburg University of Science and Technology admits 87% of applicants. Together they have 10,147 students on campus.A community college 1.4 miles awayHarrisburg Area Community College in Harrisburg: tuition and fees $6,975 a year for Pennsylvania residents.In-state price at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgLiving in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg charges $15,972 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $26,958. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Pennsylvania (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Harrisburg

Three private colleges within 9.9 miles, one public college within 9.1 miles, and Harrisburg Area Community College 1.4 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miHarrisburg AreaHarrisburg University of Science and TechnologyHarrisburg
University or collegeCommunity college
Harrisburg University of Science and TechnologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,306 on campus · In Harrisburg87%admitted$15knet price34%graduate$52kearningsHarrisburg Area Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 6,841 on campus · In Harrisburg$14knet price21%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $6,975 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Central Penn CollegeUniversity or college · For-profit · 386 on campus · 3.3 mi · Summerdale · mostly online18%admitted$19knet price51%graduate$45kearnings53% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Pennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgUniversity or college · Public · 4,591 on campus · 9.1 mi · Middletown98%admitted$23knet price26%graduate$63kearningsEarnings are reported for all 22 campuses that file with it.Messiah UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,684 on campus · 9.9 mi · Mechanicsburg79%admitted$27knet price75%graduate$54kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Harrisburg’s median household income ($48,099) falls.

Harrisburg Area Community CollegeIn Harrisburg · sticker $18,369 · tuition $6,975$14,644a year
Harrisburg University of Science and TechnologyIn Harrisburg · sticker $35,893$15,063a year
Central Penn College3.3 mi · Summerdale · mostly online · sticker $27,116$17,011a year
Messiah University9.9 mi · Mechanicsburg · sticker $55,875$20,916a year
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg9.1 mi · Middletown · sticker $32,521$21,176a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Harrisburg: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Harrisburg University of Science and TechnologyHarrisburg AreaCentral Penn CollegePennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgMessiah University
Harrisburg Area Community College21% graduate$42k earnings$18k typical debt
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg26% graduate$63k earnings*$25k typical debt
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology34% graduate$52k earnings$27k typical debt
Messiah University75% graduate$54k earnings$26k typical debt
Central Penn College51% graduate$45k earnings$23k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg (22).

Majors

What students study in Harrisburg

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Harrisburg’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 37%Business 12%Computer science 10%Liberal arts 7%Mechanics & repair 3%Education 3%Everything else 28%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHarrisburg Area Community College · 462 graduates a year
$83k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesHarrisburg Area Community College · 179 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsHarrisburg Area Community College · 175 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsHarrisburg Area Community College · 76 graduates a year
$40k4 yrs out
Business/Commerce, GeneralHarrisburg Area Community College · 68 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsHarrisburg Area Community College · 53 graduates a year
$50k4 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and ManagementHarrisburg Area Community College · 48 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralHarrisburg Area Community College · 48 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Harrisburg

Is Harrisburg a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Harrisburg residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Pennsylvania (6). The largest campus in the city, Harrisburg Area Community College, has 6,841 students on campus.

What colleges are in Harrisburg?

Harrisburg Area Community College and Harrisburg University of Science and Technology are inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Harrisburg, and what does it cost?

Harrisburg Area Community College in Harrisburg, 1.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,975 a year for Pennsylvania residents; the federal net price, $14,471, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg cost if we live in Pennsylvania?

Tuition and fees are $15,972 a year in-state and $26,958 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $16,219 (under $30,000 income) to $29,834 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Harrisburg. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →