Central Penn College
Central Penn College is a private Pennsylvania-based career college founded in 1881, enrolling approximately 821 students in healthcare, legal, and general professional certificate and degree programs delivered through accelerated on-campus and online formats.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1881
- HeadquartersSummerdale, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Central Penn College does
Central Penn College is a private, career-focused higher education institution founded in 1881 and headquartered in Summerdale/Enola, Pennsylvania (a Harrisburg suburb). The college enrolls approximately 821 students, 367 of whom are fully online, and offers certificate (as short as 9 months), associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs spanning healthcare (Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant, Medical Assisting, Surgical Technology, Dental Assisting, Phlebotomy), legal studies (ABA-approved Paralegal and Legal Studies), and broader professional tracks. Its academic delivery is anchored on the Blackboard learning management system and differentiated by year-round accelerated 11-week terms, enabling degree completion timelines (associate in 15 months, bachelor's in 3 years) that materially shorten time-to-credential relative to semester-based competitors. Distance education is authorized across 49 states, DC, Puerto Rico, and the USVI via NC-SARA reciprocity.
The institution's revenue model is tuition-led, with undergraduate tuition at $525 per credit hour and graduate tuition at $693 per credit hour, billed per term, supplemented by technology fees ($315-$510 per term), program-specific lab fees ($200-$250 per term), housing ($1,595 per term for Super Suite), and meal plans ($550-$1,125 per term). Secondary revenue is generated from conference center and room rentals for community events, plus ancillary services such as facility rental and a bookstore partnership. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer, driven by campus visit days, dual enrollment outreach to nine partner high schools, adult learner programs, and digital remarketing through Google AdWords and Facebook. Key institutional partners include UPMC for clinical rotations and a broader community-partner network for workforce development. The college holds programmatic accreditations from CAAHEP, CAPTE, ACOTE, and ABA, and is institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, though its MSCHE institutional status is currently Non-Compliance Warning (as of June 26, 2025) and its PTA program carries a CAPTE Accreditation - Warning status.
Central Penn College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Central Penn College
- Legal name
- Central Penn College
- Website
- https://centralpenn.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1881
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Central Penn College is a private Pennsylvania-based career college founded in 1881, enrolling approximately 821 students in healthcare, legal, and general professional certificate and degree programs delivered through accelerated on-campus and online formats.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Central Penn College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education (Career-Focused Postsecondary)
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Junior Colleges (6112), Junior Colleges (611210), Junior Colleges (61121)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private/Independent Community & Junior Colleges (EDAHADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD), Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC)
Keywords
Where Central Penn College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Summerdale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Central Penn College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from undergraduate tuition at $525/credit and graduate tuition at $693/credit, plus technology fees ranging from $315-$510 per term depending on credit load
- Housing and Dining: Residential housing revenue including super suite housing at $1,595/term and meal plans ranging from $550-$1,125/term
- Facility Rental: Conference center and room rental services for external events and community use
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Per term | Undergraduate tuition rate |
| Subscription | Per term | Graduate tuition rate |
| Subscription | Per term | Student/Technology Fee |
| Unit Pricing | Per term | Program-specific laboratory fees |
| Subscription | Per term | Housing - Super Suite |
| Subscription | Per term | Meal Plans |
| Subscription | Per term | Utilities |
| Unit Pricing | Per term | Books and Supplies |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Central Penn College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Central Penn College delivers career-focused postsecondary education through certificate, associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs with concentrations in healthcare (PTA, OTA, Medical Assisting, Surgical Technology, Dental Assisting, Phlebotomy) and legal studies (ABA-approved Paralegal/Legal Studies). The institution operates a residential Summerdale, PA campus with hybrid and online delivery via the Blackboard learning management system, supported by year-round accelerated 11-week academic terms. Programs hold programmatic accreditations from CAAHEP, CAPTE, ACOTE, and ABA that enable graduate certification and licensure pathways, with an 89.5% graduate placement rate in chosen field or continued education within one year of graduation.
Product overview
Central Penn College is a career-oriented residential college offering a portfolio of certificate, associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs through traditional, accelerated, and online formats. The institution operates a unified educational platform anchored by the Blackboard learning management system for virtual and hybrid delivery. Academic programs span healthcare fields (Physical Therapist Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Medical Assisting, Surgical Technology, Dental Assisting, Phlebotomy), legal studies (Paralegal, Legal Studies), and general education tracks. Supporting infrastructure includes The Learning HUB tutoring center, Math Bootcamp placement test preparation, CP Alert emergency notifications, athletics/esports, conference center rental, and career services. The institution holds institutional accreditation from MSCHE and programmatic accreditations from CAAHEP, CAPTE, ACOTE, and ABA. The college serves approximately 821 students (367 online) across campuses in Summerdale and Lancaster, PA.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program Associate in Applied Science degree program preparing students for physical therapist assistant careers, accredited by CAPTE (currently under Accreditation Warning status).
- Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) Program Associate in Applied Science degree program accredited by ACOTE, with graduates having achieved three consecutive years of 100% NBCOT exam pass rates; Central PA's only OTA program.
- Medical Assisting (AAS) Program Associate in Applied Science degree program in medical assisting, accredited by CAAHEP upon recommendation of MAERB, with Certified Medical Assistant Exam Fee in the final term.
- Surgical Technology Program Accredited surgical technology program (CAAHEP / ARC/STSA) preparing students for the NBSTSA National Certification Exam and the CST-Certified Surgical Technologist designation.
- Paralegal (AS) and Legal Studies (BS) Programs Associate in Science and Bachelor of Science degree programs in legal studies and paralegal studies, both approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).
- Dental Assistant Certificate Program Certificate program completable in nine months (six courses over three terms), with an Expanded Function Dental Assistant track approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Dentistry.
- Phlebotomy Assistant Certificate Program Certificate program in phlebotomy subject to professional licensure disclosure requirements across states.
- Athletics and Esports Program Varsity athletic program with 10 CPC Knights teams, including baseball (25-6 record, No. 10 seed at the Small College World Series), plus an Esports and Gaming program for student engagement.
- Career Services Career placement and development services supporting graduate employment outcomes, with 89.5% finding jobs in their field or continuing education within one year of graduation.
- Conference Center and Facility Rental Conference center and room rental services for community events, weddings, and gatherings, with reservations managed through the Wufoo form system.
Quantifiable outcome
- 89.5% of graduates find a job or continue education within one year
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Central Penn College
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Central Penn College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration13 records
Feature3 records
Central Penn College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UPMCcoreHealthcare partnership providing clinical rotation sites and career pathways for health science students. Central Penn College has a dedicated UPMC partnership page indicating significant clinical education collaboration.
- Community PartnersminorVarious community organizations and employers collaborate with Central Penn through the Partner Program for workforce development, internships, and career opportunities.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Central Penn College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Reading Area Community College: A nearby Pennsylvania community college offering associate degrees and certificates in healthcare, business, and legal studies. Comparable on associate-degree healthcare programs and Central PA regional competition.
- Fortis College (Multiple PA Campuses): A private, for-profit career college network with Pennsylvania locations offering healthcare and skilled trades programs. Comparable on private career-college model, programmatic accreditations, and accelerated scheduling.
- Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC): The primary public community college competitor in Central Pennsylvania, offering associate degrees and certificate programs in healthcare and other fields at lower tuition. HACC also operates Central Penn's online bookstore, indicating operational overlap.
- Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences: A private, healthcare-focused college in Lancaster, PA, offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees in allied health fields. Closest direct peer by mission (career-focused healthcare education), geography (Central PA), and degree mix.
- Triangle Tech: A private Pennsylvania technical/trade school with multiple campuses, focused on skilled trades and applied technology career programs. Comparable on private, career-focused CTE positioning and Pennsylvania footprint.
- South Hills School of Business & Technology: A private, career-oriented Pennsylvania institution offering associate and bachelor's programs in business, healthcare, and technology. Directly comparable on private career-college model, accelerated scheduling, and Pennsylvania footprint.
- YTI Career Institute: A private Pennsylvania career college offering diploma and associate degree programs in healthcare, trades, and business. Comparable on private career-school model with healthcare and trades emphasis.
- Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology: Pennsylvania's only state-funded two-year college of technology, offering associate degrees and certificates in technical trades and healthcare. Comparable on accelerated, career-focused CTE model with strong employer placement.
- McCann School of Business & Technology: A private Pennsylvania career college offering associate degrees and certificates in healthcare, business, legal studies, and trades. Comparable on private career-focused model and Central PA geographic overlap.
Broad incumbents
- Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU): A large, established online-focused university aggressively expanding adult-learner enrollment with competitive tuition and flexible scheduling. Represents the primary online-adult-learner competitive threat given Central Penn's 367 online students and NC-SARA reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Central Penn College social profiles
Digital presenceCentral Penn College compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance15 records
Central Penn College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Central Penn College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Central Penn College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Central Penn College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Central Penn College
What does Central Penn College do?
Central Penn College delivers career-focused postsecondary education through certificate, associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs with concentrations in healthcare (PTA, OTA, Medical Assisting, Surgical Technology, Dental Assisting, Phlebotomy) and legal studies (ABA-approved Paralegal/Legal Studies). The institution operates a residential Summerdale, PA campus with hybrid and online delivery via the Blackboard learning management system, supported by year-round accelerated 11-week academic terms. Programs hold programmatic accreditations from CAAHEP, CAPTE, ACOTE, and ABA that enable graduate certification and licensure pathways, with an 89.5% graduate placement rate in chosen field or continued education within one year of graduation.
Is Central Penn College a public or private company?
Central Penn College is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Central Penn College founded?
Central Penn College was founded in 1881. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Central Penn College based?
Central Penn College is headquartered in Summerdale, United States, in the North America region.
How does Central Penn College make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are housing and Dining and facility Rental.
Who are Central Penn College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Reading Area Community College, Fortis College (Multiple PA Campuses), Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC), Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, Triangle Tech, South Hills School of Business & Technology, YTI Career Institute, Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and McCann School of Business & Technology. Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Central Penn College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Central Penn College.
What industry is Central Penn College in?
Central Penn College's product category is Higher Education (Career-Focused Postsecondary). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHADAB, Private/Independent Community & Junior Colleges, with a secondary code of EDAHADAD, Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.