Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) offers associate of arts, associate of science and associate in applied science degrees, as well as various certificates of proficiency. Concentrations include art, biology, nursing, sociology, psychology, education, engineering, computer technology and legal studies. The college offers amenities such as child care, counseling services for personal or professional issues, and career services for personality and career assessment. HACC requires no SAT scores in its application process, and says students can get an education while holding a full-time or part-time job. The average HACC student is between 30 and 55 and lives with a spouse or child.
Central Pennsylvania College is in Summerdale, around three miles from Harrisburg. The college offers programs that lead to bachelor of science, associate of science and associate of applied science degrees. Admission is based on performance in high school or other college, as well as requirements in your desired field. CPC also offers student financial and safety assistance, as well as apartments instead of dorms. The school says students can earn a bachelor's degree in three years.
Messiah College, a private Christian college, is in Grantham, about 10 miles from Harrisburg. The college offers bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees in more than 50 majors, including accounting, business administration, biology, engineering, pre-law and pre-medical, social work, education, nursing, marketing, journalism, politics and psychology, as well as teaching certificates. Messiah College also offers graduate programs that can lead to the master of arts in art education, master of music in conducting and master of arts in counseling.
Elizabethtown College is in Elizabethtown, 17 miles from Harrisburg. The college offers 56 majors in the liberal arts, sciences and professional studies, and 96 minors, which will lead to bachelor of arts or bachelor of science degrees. Programs include theater, psychology, religious studies, English, economics, fine arts, history, engineering, communications, business administration and computer science. The school also has relatively small classes, with 25 students in the average class. The admissions department considers high school GPA and standardized test scores, but also whether an applicant will make positive contributions to the community.