Harrisburg Area Community College – Harrisburg (HACC)

Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) is one of six community colleges in Central Pennsylvania's Community College District. The other campuses in the district include locations in Gettysburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York. The HACC also has a Virtual Campus for online or distance learning. The Virtual campus offers more than 150 online courses in a range of subjects, and also offers student support services for online students. Students can also choose to follow an academic program through a blend of online, on-campus and hybrid courses.

HACC has expanded to include developing technology and trade programs to add to its roster of 16 programs. Through its combined locations and programs, HACC offers nearly 200 associate degrees, certificates and diplomas.

HACC also offers non-credit programs for personal enrichment and lifelong learning. Included in this curriculum are public safety training for volunteers and professionals, as well as workforce development for business, industry, healthcare, and human services.

All the college locations in the HACC offer excellent facilities with modern equipment, and high-quality programs and services.

History

Harrisburg Area Community College was founded in 1964 at the Harrisburg Academy site as the first community college in Pennsylvania. Its first class had 426 students enrolled. In 1965, Hershey Junior College in Pennsylvania closed and that school's faculty and students joined the HACC. In 1966, HACC broke ground at a new campus location in Wildwood Park.

In 1967, the HACC became the first community college in Pennsylvania to be accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. That same year, the college moved to its new campus with the completion of three of its major buildings.

Over the years, HACC added many more buildings to its campus and eventually expanded further with additional campuses. HACC has become one of the largest undergraduate colleges in Pennsylvania.

In 1987, HACC began offering courses through its Distance Learning program. In 1999, the Distance Learning program added online courses. In 2002, the online programs became part of the HACC Virtual Campus.

Academics

HACC offers a variety of academic calendars for flexible scheduling options to meet the needs of all students. The academic calendar for HACC generally follows a semester format, with fall and spring terms, and several shorter summer sessions.

Colleges and Schools

The academic units for Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) are organized into divisions, as follows:

• Business, Hospitality, and Tourism Division
• Communications, Humanities, and the Arts Division
• Health Careers Division
• Mathematics and Science Division
• Social Sciences Division
• Technology Division

Student Life

There are many opportunities for student involvement beyond the classroom, and the HACC offices of Student Life and Student Affairs provide information about student clubs, organizations and campus activities. Activities vary from campus to campus, so students are advised to consult the Student Life office at their specific campus for a list of activities.

Student clubs and organizations offer chances for meeting other students and developing social and leadership skills. There are also groups that focus on specialized interests and common goals, whether they are academic, cultural, social, political or other.

Some of the recent or upcoming activities at HACC include a "Bus Trip to New York City, World AIDS Day, and Stress Relieve Week.

Traditions

The school colors of Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) are maroon and white. The HACC school mascot is the hawk, and the athletic teams are referred to as the "Hawks."

Athletics

A member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (EPCC) and the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association (PCAA), the HACC "Hawks" athletic teams regularly compete in at least five intercollegiate sports, including:

Men's Sports:

• Basketball
• Golf
• Soccer
• Tennis
• Volleyball 

Women's Sports:

• Basketball
• Golf
• Soccer
• Tennis
• Volleyball

Satellite Campuses

In addition to it Virtual Campus and the Harrisburg Campus, HACC has four satellite campus locations in the Central Pennsylvania Community College District, including:

• Gettysburg
• Lancaster
• Lebanon
• York

Courses are also offered at additional satellite locations in south-central Pennsylvania, including:

• Midtown 1
• Midtown 2
• Penn Center 3
• Hanover Hospital
• Campus Square

Community Life

The HACC Foundation is a non-profit educational trust that raises private and corporate funds to support the HACC and its students, facilities and programs, including those that benefit the community.

Estimated Costs & Financial Aid

The average "out of pocket" cost of attendance, after any grants and scholarships are considered, is around $9,800. To calculate a more personalized cost visit the net price calculator. The figures listed below are for informational purposes only and do not represent current or future tuition, fees, and expenses.

Tuition & Fees Information

• Annual tuition estimates are:
  • State Residents: $4,900-$5,900
  • Out-of-State: $7,500-$9,000
• Charges per unit:
  • In-State: $200-$240 per unit
  • Out-of-State: $300-$360 per unit

Financial Aid Details

The table below breaks down the types of financial aid, the percent of students receiving aid, and average amount of aid per student per year.

	Percent of Students	Average Amount
Any Financial Aid	79%	-
Receiving Grants & Scholarships	58%	$4,506
Receiving Student Loans	59%	$5,032

Admissions, Academics, & Student Services

Student Services

To help students and alumni, Harrisburg Area Community College – Harrisburg may provide student services like:

• Online classes
• Weekend and night classes available
• Remedial courses
• Career path counseling
• Work study style employment
• Assisting students to find work
• Day care for children

Graduation & Transfer Rates

Students who attend a community college will be able to choose from a variety of programs that will lead to an associate's degree or transfer to a four year institution. The following list shows graduation and transfer-out rates for this school compared to community colleges in Pennsylvania, which can be useful for determining which community college to attend.

	HACC	Dauphin County	Pennsylvania
Graduation Rate	10.9%	-	21.2%
Transfer-out Rate	17.8%	-	22.2%

Specialized Programs & Accreditations

• Dental Assistant Program
  • Accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation (since 1985)
• Dental Hygienist Program
  • Accredited by the American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation (since 1991)
• Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) Program
  • Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. ? May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (since 1987)
  • Find all the other nursing programs in Pennsylvania
• Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) Program
  • Accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. ? May 6, 2013 Formerly: National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (since 1991)

Other Community Colleges Nearby

The list of nearby schools has been selected by researching which schools offer similar programs to Harrisburg Area Community College – Harrisburg.

• Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, PA (36 miles away)
• Reading Area Community College in Reading, PA (50 miles away)
• Carroll Community College in Westminster, MD (53 miles away)
• Harford Community College in Bel Air, MD (60 miles away)
• Hagerstown Community College in Hagerstown, MD (62 miles away)