Colleges Near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Looking for information about the best colleges and universities serving Harrisburg? Here's your guide to the top schools offering degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 20 miles of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
There are at least 9 colleges serving the area, including 7 private colleges and universities, 1 public college or university, and 1 community college offering 2-year degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving Harrisburg, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania have been declining over the past 5 years. In 2023, students completed 6,136 doctorates at colleges and universities near Harrisburg. That was a decrease of 11% from completions reported in 2019.
Schools with Degree Completions
Est. Total Completions in 2023
Est. Completions (Last 5 Years)
Sponsored
Top School For Adults & Online Students
Franklin University is a top choice for transfer students, online learners and adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,117
Completions By Degree
2,171
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Private Colleges & Universities Offering Degrees Near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
There are at least 7 schools offering degrees near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and 7 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 14,321 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2023, a total of 5,672 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 3,264 that were offered online.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area. Franklin University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Franklin University. In 2023, 1,429 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 88 associate degrees, 616 master's degrees, and 38 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,117
Completions By Degree
2,171
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Elizabethtown College is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Elizabethtown College. In 2023, 408 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 9 associate degrees, 126 master's degrees, and 5 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,703
Completions By Degree
548
Est. Online Degree Availability
23%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology. In 2023, 686 master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 104 bachelor's degrees, and 6 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
629
Completions By Degree
796
Est. Online Degree Availability
65%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Central Penn College is an institutionally accredited for profit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and some programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Central Penn College. In 2023, 129 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 107 associate degrees, 10 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
844
Completions By Degree
246
Est. Online Degree Availability
66%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Messiah University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Messiah University. In 2023, 569 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 213 master's degrees, and 42 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
2,327
Completions By Degree
824
Est. Online Degree Availability
32%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Lebanon Valley College is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Lebanon Valley College. In 2023, 427 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 126 master's degrees, and 55 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,618
Completions By Degree
608
Est. Online Degree Availability
3%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Dickinson College is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Dickinson College. In 2023, 476 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 3 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
2,083
Completions By Degree
479
Est. Online Degree Availability
1%
Completions by Program Area
Public Colleges & Universities Near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
There is 1 four-year public college located near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. About 4,053 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, and about 928 degrees were completed at public colleges near Harrisburg. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg. In 2023, 729 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 6 associate degrees, 187 master's degrees, and 6 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,053
Completions By Degree
928
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Community Colleges Near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
There is 1 community college near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2023, about 9,854 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges near Harrisburg, and about 1,707 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Harrisburg Area Community College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and some programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
9,854
Completions By Degree
1,707
Est. Online Degree Availability
45%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges Near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Harrisburg-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $37,455. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near Harrisburg is $19,404, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
4-Year Nonprofit
4-Year For-Profit
2-Year
Accredited Colleges Serving Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a degree from an institutionally accredited university is one of the best ways to ensure your education is of high quality. Institutionally accredited universities are held to rigorous standards by state and regional bodies and undergo regular reviews to verify that their processes and academic programs meet the proper standards.
Wondering if a certain college or university offering degree programs in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving Harrisburg, Pennsylvania here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- Dickinson College
- Elizabethtown College
- Lebanon Valley College
- Messiah University
- Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
- Harrisburg Area Community College
- Central Penn College
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in Harrisburg? What's the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2023, there were about 839,246 jobs in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area. From 2022-2023, job growth in Harrisburg was below the national average, at 1.9%. There were 104,639 job openings in the area. In terms of earnings, workers in Harrisburg do better than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $22.03.