Central Penn College

Educating Central Pennsylvania since 1881

Central Penn College is a career-oriented, residential college located in suburban Summerdale, PA, just minutes from downtown Harrisburg, the state capital. Established in 1881, the college offers a range of programs including certificates, associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees, catering to both traditional and continuing education students. Education is delivered through hands-on learning by experienced and caring faculty.

Since 1881, Central Penn has been a leader in delivering career-focused education to students in Pennsylvania and beyond.

The college emphasizes career-focused education, with programs taught by supportive faculty with real-world experience. The accelerated 11-week terms and year-round schedule enable students to complete a bachelor’s degree in three years, an associate degree in 18 months, and certificates in as little as nine months. Students benefit from small class sizes and various course formats, including day, evening, in-person, online, and hybrid classes.

Central Penn College is located on a 58-acre campus in suburban Summerdale, Pennsylvania. The campus is just minutes from downtown Harrisburg, Pa the state capital.

Central Penn College’s 58-acre campus features multiple academic buildings, including the Advanced Technology Education Center (ATEC), which houses classrooms, faculty and staff offices, computer labs, the Knight and Day Cafe, and The Central Penn College Conference Center. Other buildings include Bollinger Hall, Milano Hall, West Wing, the Stabler Health Sciences Building, the Surgical Technology Education Center, and the Charles “T” Jones Leadership Library. The campus also offers 34 student townhouses, six apartment buildings, a student union with the 250-person Capital Blue Cross Theatre, a dance studio, and the Greenly Fitness Center. Additionally, the historic Boyer House, a preserved farmhouse and barn, is situated on the campus. A 22-acre plot of land on the opposite side of Valley Road remains undeveloped. The campus is conveniently located at the crossroads of interstate 81 and PA Route 11/15 in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania’s fastest growing county.

Central Penn College has everything you’re looking for in a college  – a beautiful and safe suburban campus just a few minutes drive from the hustle and bustle Harrisburg, in-demand degree programs to choose from, and plenty to do after class.

What are we missing? Over-crowded parking lots, huge classrooms, and buses to trek across campus…just to name a few.

Innovative Leadership

Dr. Linda Fedrizzi-Williams became the college’s 10th president in June 2018. Making college more affordable is one of her top priorities.

Central Penn and the Central Penn College Education Foundation also awards more than $1 million in scholarships annually to assist students and parents with the costs of attending college and attaining a certificate, diploma, or degree.

“A college degree is a pathway to a better career and a better life, and we are committed to creating an educational environment that empowers students, so they can achieve the highest levels of success,” says Dr. Fedrizzi-Williams.

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Central Penn College Athletics

Central Penn College’s athletic programs compete in the USCAA conference at the Division II level. They are members of the USCAA Eastern States Athletic Conference (ESAC). This offers student-athletes the opportunity to play at the collegiate level in men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, and baseball.

Central Penn College has secured landmark agreements to play collegiate sports in professional facilities including AA Harrisburg Senators’ FNB Field for baseball and Skyline Sports Complex for soccer.

In recent years the Knights and Lady Knights have seen great success, frequently being ranked in the USCAA top 10 national rankings, qualifying for post-season play, competing against NCAA DI and DII opponents, and having games televised nationally on ESPN multiple times a year.

Rooted in History

Central Penn College traces its history to 1881 and the Pennsylvania Business College that was located on Market Street in Harrisburg, Pa. For the past 140 years, the college has been providing career-focused education to the Central Pennsylvania region and beyond.

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