Penn State Harrisburg

Penn State Harrisburg, officially known as The Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg—Capital College, is a comprehensive undergraduate college and graduate school of the Pennsylvania State University located in Middletown, Pennsylvania. Situated just nine miles south of the state capital, the 218-acre suburban campus serves a diverse student body of nearly 5,000. It is the largest of Penn State’s Commonwealth Campuses and is distinguished by its ability to offer the resources of a world-class research university within a more intimate, student-centered environment. The college is a regional leader in engineering, business, and public affairs, offering more than 75 associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs.

The college has a unique origins story, having been established in 1966 on the site of the former Olmsted Air Force Base. It was originally founded as the "Capitol Campus," designed exclusively as an upper-division and graduate school—one of only three in the nation at the time—serving only juniors, seniors, and graduate students. This specialized mission continued for decades until the college began its transition into a full four-year institution in the early 2000s, admitting its first freshman class in 2001 and completing the transition by 2004. In 1986, it was granted "college" status and renamed to its current title. Over its 50-year history, it has evolved from a small military-base conversion with eight faculty members into a thriving academic hub that grants its own doctoral degrees, a rarity among Penn State's satellite locations.

Penn State Harrisburg stands as a bridge between the intimate atmosphere of a small college and the massive power of the Penn State Nittany Lion network. By leveraging its unique history as a former Air Force base and its strategic position near the state capital, the college has created a niche for itself as a practical, high-impact institution. Its growth into a comprehensive university center with its own doctoral programs ensures that it remains a critical engine for the Central Pennsylvania economy. For students seeking the prestige of a Penn State degree with the benefits of smaller classes and direct professional pipelines, Penn State Harrisburg remains a premier and distinctive choice.