
Penn State Harrisburg's Lions compete in NCAA Division III varsity athletics and the United East Conference. Representative varsity sports include baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball; students should check the current athletics roster for the exact men's and women's teams offered in their entry year.
Varsity participation differs from recreational play: it involves team selection, scheduled competition and a substantial time commitment. NCAA Division III institutions do not award athletic scholarships on the basis of athletic ability. Students seeking a less formal option can investigate campus recreation and fitness activities rather than assuming a listed varsity sport operates as an open club or intramural league.
Penn State Harrisburg has student-led organizations that give students ways to participate outside class. Recognized groups can include academic and professional associations, cultural organizations, service groups, performing-arts activities and student media.
The campus reports a student-run newspaper and radio station, a theater group and choral groups. Those activities offer different levels of involvement, from attending an event to producing work or helping run an organization. Because recognition and activity can change between semesters, students looking for a particular club should use the current campus organization directory rather than assume an older listing still represents an active group.
Penn State Harrisburg enrolls both undergraduate and graduate students. Reported total enrollment is 4,493, providing a picture of a campus larger than its entering first-year class alone.
The reported first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduate intake was about 1,020 students, alongside 221 transfer-in students. Geographic figures indicate that Pennsylvania residents form a substantial share, while students from other U.S. states and foreign countries are also represented. The reported international share is approximately 20%; rounded categories should not be treated as an exact count of individuals.
Reported racial and ethnic enrollment counts include 1,854 White students, 582 Asian students, 408 Black or African American students and 387 Hispanic or Latino students. These are descriptive enrollment figures, not a basis for assumptions about an individual's background or experience. Students evaluating classroom access may also note the reported student-to-faculty ratio of 14 to 1; it does not describe the size of every course.
Daily life at Penn State Harrisburg combines a largely commuter campus with a smaller residential population. That distinction affects when students meet one another: a commuter may need to plan time on campus outside class, while a resident has more immediate access to evening activities.
The campus offers gathering and activity spaces, student programming and opportunities to participate in the wider Penn State community. First-year orientation and academic advising can help new students navigate course requirements and services, but their usefulness depends in part on whether students can attend and follow up. For prospective students, a timetable showing classes, work and travel time is often more revealing than a list of activities alone.
The Penn State Harrisburg Library is the campus's principal library and part of Penn State University Libraries. Students can use it for course research, study and access to the wider university library system's scholarly materials.
University library services include research help and access to electronic journals, databases and other online resources, with access conditions depending on the resource and a student's Penn State credentials. Students needing material not held locally can investigate requests through the university library network or interlibrary services. Current hours, reservable spaces and equipment availability should be checked through the library before planning a late-night study session or group project.
Total enrollment
4478Full Time Degree Seeking Freshmen
1000Member of Athletic Associations
NCAATotal staff
224 full time, 158 part timeVeterans affair office
NoVarsity teams compete against other colleges, intramural teams within the school. Each column says whether men, women or both take part, and whether the sport offers athletic scholarships (Aid).
Sport
Badminton
Baseball
Basketball
Cross-country running
Golf
Racquetball
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Volleyball
Data last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.