Penn State University - Harrisburg
Penn State Harrisburg is a public regional campus of The Pennsylvania State University located in Middletown, PA, serving 5,000+ students with 70+ undergraduate and graduate programs across business, education, humanities, public affairs, and STEM disciplines, plus new AI degree programs launching Fall 2026.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1966
- HeadquartersHarrisburg, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Penn State University - Harrisburg does
Penn State Harrisburg is the largest and most comprehensive of Penn State's Commonwealth Campuses, operating as a public undergraduate college and graduate school located in Middletown, Pennsylvania, eight miles east of Harrisburg. Founded in 1966 and governed by The Pennsylvania State University, it serves 5,000+ students from more than 40 U.S. states and over 50 countries, delivering 70+ undergraduate and graduate programs plus the first two years of 275+ Penn State majors across five schools: Business Administration, Behavioral Sciences and Education, Humanities, Public Affairs, and Science, Engineering, and Technology. Core products include bachelor's degrees, master's and doctoral programs (American Studies, Engineering and Computing Systems, Public Administration), accelerated IUG and three-year Fast-Track pathways, graduate and education certificates, Continuing Education for working professionals, and the OLLI Harrisburg lifelong learning institute for adults aged 50+. The platform is built on Canvas LMS and LionPATH student information systems, with technology integration extending to research administration and an emerging AI stack that includes a forthcoming BS in AI Methods and Applications, a planned BS in AI Engineering, an AI Immersive Lab, and an AI-Enabled Operational Efficiency initiative.
The revenue model is a hybrid of subscription-style tuition (PA residents $16,018; non-PA residents $27,534 annually for full-time undergraduates), auxiliary housing and meal plan revenue ($11,294 housing + $5,608 meal plan), federal/state/private research grants ($9.8M in expenditures in 2025, up 32% YoY), and philanthropy routed through the development office. The go-to-market motion is sales-led through traditional higher education recruitment: direct admissions, virtual tours, Spend a Summer Day and Admitted Student events, plus a HACC Dual Admission Program serving as a channel/reseller for transfer students. The customer base is segmented across first-time freshmen, transfer students, graduate students, adult learners, veterans, and lifelong learners, with no material concentration in any single account. Recent strategic positioning is anchored on a college-wide AI strategy, faculty research growth, and physical campus modernization including a new 47,000-square-foot Academic Learning Center.
Penn State University - Harrisburg firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Penn State University - Harrisburg
- Legal name
- The Pennsylvania State University
- Website
- https://harrisburg.psu.edu
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1966
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Penn State Harrisburg is a public regional campus of The Pennsylvania State University located in Middletown, PA, serving 5,000+ students with 70+ undergraduate and graduate programs across business, education, humanities, public affairs, and STEM disciplines, plus new AI degree programs launching Fall 2026.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Penn State University - Harrisburg industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools (EDAHAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Education (EDADALAD)
Keywords
Where Penn State University - Harrisburg is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Harrisburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Penn State University - Harrisburg business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue stream from tuition and mandatory fees charged to undergraduate and graduate students. PA residents pay $16,018 annually; non-PA residents pay $27,534 annually. Additional per-credit pricing for part-time students.
- Housing and Food Services: On-campus housing (Capital Village, Nittany Village) and meal plans. Housing costs $11,294 annually; meal plans (level 2) cost $5,608 annually.
- Research Grants and Contracts: Federal, state, and private research funding. In 2025, research expenditures reached $9.8 million, a 32% increase over previous year, contributing to Penn State's $1.44 billion university-wide research expenditures.
- Philanthropy and Donations: Development office raises funds through donor partnerships, scholarships, and capital campaigns. Notable $4.39 million estate gift from Harrisburg alumnus for business scholarship.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | PA Resident Full-Time Undergraduate Annual Tuition and Fees |
| Subscription | Annual | Non-PA Resident Full-Time Undergraduate Annual Tuition and Fees |
| Subscription | Annual | On-Campus Housing and Food (with tuition) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Part-Time Per Credit Hour - Lower Division |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Part-Time Per Credit Hour - Upper Division (Business, EMS, Science, IST, Engineering) |
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Part-Time Per Credit Hour - Upper Division (All Other Programs) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Penn State University - Harrisburg product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Penn State Harrisburg is a comprehensive undergraduate college and graduate school delivering more than 70 accredited academic programs across five schools (Business Administration, Behavioral Sciences and Education, Humanities, Public Affairs, and Science, Engineering, and Technology). It offers bachelor's, master's, doctoral, graduate certificate, accelerated IUG, fast-track, and continuing education offerings, supported by a research enterprise that generated $9.8 million in expenditures in 2025.
Product overview
Penn State Harrisburg is a comprehensive undergraduate college and graduate school offering over 70 undergraduate and graduate programs across five academic schools: Business Administration, Behavioral Sciences and Education, Humanities, Public Affairs, and Science, Engineering, and Technology. The institution operates a platform-plus-modules architecture with core degree programs (undergraduate majors, graduate degrees including Ph.D. programs), augmented by accelerated pathways (IUG programs enabling bachelor's-to-master's in five years, three-year Fast-Track degrees), professional certificates, and continuing education offerings. The college has launched new AI-focused products including a Bachelor of Science in AI Methods and Applications and an AI Immersive Lab (both launching fall 2026), positioning it as a regional hub for applied and ethical AI education. Research and outreach services support faculty and student research through seed funding programs and industry partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Undergraduate Degree Programs More than 40 bachelor's degree programs offered across five academic schools for first-time freshmen and transfer students seeking an accredited residential college experience.
- Graduate Degree Programs Master's, doctoral, and graduate certificate programs in disciplines including Business Administration (MBA), Public Administration (MPA), Computer Science, Engineering, and Clinical Psychology, with part-time and full-time scheduling options.
- Doctoral Degrees Ph.D. programs in American Studies, Engineering and Computing Systems, and Public Administration supporting advanced research and academic careers.
- Accelerated Degree Programs (Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate) Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate (IUG) programs that allow qualified students to earn both bachelor's and master's degrees in five years of continuous study.
- Fast-Track Three-Year Bachelor's Degrees Three-year bachelor's degree programs combining intensive coursework and flexible scheduling to accelerate workforce entry.
- Graduate Certificates Postbaccalaureate certificates in specialized fields including Accounting, Electrical Engineering, Homeland Security, Healthcare Supply Chain Management, and Public Administration.
- Education Certifications and Endorsements Teacher certifications and endorsements including ESL Program Specialist, Elementary Education (PK-4), Secondary Education in various subjects, and Special Education PK-12.
- Continuing Education Workforce and professional development courses including Project Management, AI Essentials, Design Thinking, Mindfulness, and Spanish language programs for adult learners and working professionals.
- Research and Outreach Services Office supporting faculty research proposal development, seed funding programs (EAGER, GREAT, REU, RED Team, SPEAK), and collaboration with industry and government partners.
- Bachelor of Science in AI Methods and Applications Bachelor of Science degree in Artificial Intelligence Methods and Applications, an interdisciplinary program combining technical rigor with applied, real-world learning, launching Fall 2026.
- Bachelor of Science in AI Engineering Bachelor of Science in AI Engineering planned degree program positioning the college to engage with Penn State's Nittany AI Alliance, launching Fall 2026.
Quantifiable outcome
- 32% increase in research expenditures year-over-year, reaching $9.8 million in 2025
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Penn State University - Harrisburg
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Penn State University - Harrisburg technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature3 records
Penn State University - Harrisburg partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate InnovationcoreCo-sponsored seed grant program for Smart and Connected Homes research focus. Penn State Harrisburg contributed over $37,000 to support research in the built environment. Partnership supports faculty research addressing real estate innovation challenges.
- International Partner Institutions (Spain, Ghana, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Nigeria)minorFaculty seed grants funded for interdisciplinary research projects with international partner institutions spanning health, engineering, humanities, and teacher education fields. Travel scheduled for summer research collaborations.
- Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol ProgramscorePartnership with Life Unites Us campaign, a public health initiative addressing substance use disorder awareness and prevention. The Pollock Center for Addiction Outreach and Research collaborates with the department on data collection and community outreach.
- Penn State College of MedicinecoreCollaboration on healthcare AI research including AI-driven tools for Parkinson disease diagnosis and prognosis prediction. Also partnering on Smart Medical Technology Hub expansion and graduate certificate in healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Technology Council of Central PennsylvaniaminorCommunity engagement partnership focused on AI workforce development and regional technology initiatives to foster dialogue around AI and expand workforce partnerships.
- National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT)minorParticipation in NCWIT Higher Ed Learning Circles for Undergraduate Programs to improve student success in computing and strengthen the AI talent pipeline.
- Nittany AI AlliancecorePlanned Bachelor of Science in AI Engineering positions the college to engage with Penn State's Nittany AI Alliance and broader AI education and research community.
- Institute of Computational and Data SciencescoreCollaboration on AI Immersive Lab aligned with the Institute's work; cluster hire of five tenure-track faculty positions includes partnership with this Penn State unit.
- Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC)coreHACC Dual Admission Program provides seamless transfer pathway for students completing associate degrees at HACC to continue at Penn State Harrisburg. Walk-in appointments available at HACC Harrisburg and Lancaster locations.
- Ben Franklin Technology PartnersminorUniversity research resource partner supporting technology transfer and innovation ecosystem development alongside Penn State's Office of Technology Management and Innovation Park.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Penn State University - Harrisburg competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Temple University: Larger Pennsylvania public R1 university operating a Harrisburg-area branch. Temple's Harrisburg campus directly competes with Penn State Harrisburg for Capital Region adult learners and graduate students, while Temple Main competes for the broader Pennsylvania applicant pool at scale.
Direct peers
- Penn State Behrend: Penn State's flagship Commonwealth Campus located in Erie, PA. Operates as a comprehensive undergraduate college and graduate school within the same Penn State system as Harrisburg, with similar enrollment scale, four-year residential model, and AI/business/engineering program mix. The most directly comparable peer in the Penn State network.
- Penn State Berks: Reading-area Penn State Commonwealth Campus offering undergraduate degrees and selected graduate programs. Comparable scale and program portfolio as Harrisburg within the same Penn State system, sharing accreditation, GTM motion, and tuition structure.
- Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Commonwealth University): Pennsylvania state-system comprehensive doctoral university with a 100+ program portfolio and R3-equivalent research classification. Comparable to Penn State Harrisburg in scale, program breadth, and adult-learner/continuing-education offerings across Pennsylvania.
- Penn State Altoona: Penn State Commonwealth Campus in central Pennsylvania offering four-year programs plus first-two-years of 200+ Penn State majors. Directly comparable to Harrisburg in scale, residency model, division III athletics, and mix of business/engineering/humanities programs, with shared Penn State brand and accreditation.
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania: PASSHE comprehensive university near Philadelphia with similar Carnegie Master's/Doctoral classification, full accreditation stack, and broad undergraduate/graduate program mix. Indirect direct competitor for mid-Atlantic and Pennsylvania residents considering regional state universities.
- Millersville University: Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) comprehensive university located in Lancaster County, ~30 miles from Harrisburg. Directly competes for the same southcentral Pennsylvania undergraduate pool with similar Carnegie classification, accreditation portfolio, and tuition positioning.
- Shippensburg University: PASSHE comprehensive university in south-central Pennsylvania competing for similar regional undergraduate and graduate students. Offers comparable comprehensive program portfolio with business, education, and engineering programs; competes with Penn State Harrisburg in the Harrisburg-anchored labor market.
Emerging players
- Carnegie Mellon University: Premier Pittsburgh-based R1 research university with global leadership in AI and computer science. Increasingly relevant as Penn State Harrisburg launches AI programs and competes for AI talent and research dollars in Pennsylvania, though CMU operates at vastly larger scale and prestige.
Regional players
- Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC): Local community college serving Harrisburg region as the dominant associate-degree and continuing-education provider. HACC is both a feeder (via Dual Admission Program) and indirect competitor for adult learners and price-sensitive students in the same Capital Region.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Penn State University - Harrisburg social profiles
Digital presencePenn State University - Harrisburg compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Penn State University - Harrisburg financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Penn State University - Harrisburg leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Penn State University - Harrisburg funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Penn State University - Harrisburg 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 Penn State University - Harrisburg
What does Penn State University - Harrisburg do?
Penn State Harrisburg is a comprehensive undergraduate college and graduate school delivering more than 70 accredited academic programs across five schools (Business Administration, Behavioral Sciences and Education, Humanities, Public Affairs, and Science, Engineering, and Technology). It offers bachelor's, master's, doctoral, graduate certificate, accelerated IUG, fast-track, and continuing education offerings, supported by a research enterprise that generated $9.8 million in expenditures in 2025.
Is Penn State University - Harrisburg a public or private company?
Penn State University - Harrisburg is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Penn State University - Harrisburg founded?
Penn State University - Harrisburg was founded in 1966.
Where is Penn State University - Harrisburg based?
Penn State University - Harrisburg is headquartered in Harrisburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Penn State University - Harrisburg make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are housing and Food Services, research Grants and Contracts and philanthropy and Donations.
Who are Penn State University - Harrisburg's main competitors?
Temple University is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Penn State Behrend, Penn State Berks, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Commonwealth University), Penn State Altoona, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, Millersville University and Shippensburg University. Carnegie Mellon University is listed as an emerging player. Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) is listed as a regional player.
Does Penn State University - Harrisburg have an API?
No public API is recorded for Penn State University - Harrisburg.
What industry is Penn State University - Harrisburg in?
Penn State University - Harrisburg's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAAAF, Public Research Universities with Comprehensive Graduate & Professional Schools, with a secondary code of EDADALAD, Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Education. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.