What Harcum College is like

What it's like

Harcum College is a small, career-focused associate degree-granting institution in suburban Philadelphia with both commuter and residential students. Founded in 1915 as a women's preparatory school, it transitioned to a junior college in the late 1920s and became coeducational in 2003. Located on the Philadelphia Main Line near Bryn Mawr Train Station, the college serves traditional and non-traditional students pursuing practical credentials in healthcare, business, and human services. The campus includes historic buildings alongside specialized facilities like the Cohen Dental Center and an animal care facility, reflecting its emphasis on hands-on professional training.

Academic feel

Harcum offers over 20 degree programs concentrated in Allied Health Science, Business, Human Services, Design, and Education, with instruction delivered on campus, at partnership sites, and online. The college operates the Cohen Dental Center, a 16-chair clinical facility treating approximately 1,400 patients annually through student-run dental programs. It maintains an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology program. A 50% graduation rate and 55% first-year retention rate as of 2023 suggest moderate completion challenges typical of open-access community colleges.

Strengths

• First junior college in Pennsylvania authorized to grant Associate of Arts and Associate of Science degrees, establishing a pioneering model for two-year higher education in the state.[1]
• Operates the Cohen Dental Center, a 16-chair clinical facility that treats approximately 1,400 patients per year, providing substantial hands-on training in dental programs.[1]
• Offers AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology program with dedicated animal care facility on campus.[1]
• Provides convenient access to Philadelphia and the broader Main Line through adjacent SEPTA rail connection at Bryn Mawr Train Station.[1]
• Serves both traditional and non-traditional students with flexible delivery options including on-campus, partnership site, and online courses.[1]

Weaknesses

• First-year retention rate of 55% as of 2023 indicates challenges in student persistence through the critical first year.[1]
• Overall graduation rate of 50% as of 2023 suggests significant attrition between entry and degree completion.[1]

Traditions

• The Harcum Music School, established in 1985 through acquisition of Medley Music's teaching division and relocated to campus in 1990, serves both students and community members.[1]
• The Kevin D. Marlo Little Theatre, an historic theatre restored and revived in 2011, honors an alumnus killed in the September 11th attacks and reconnects students and community to the arts.[1]
• The college athletics program features the Bears mascot, named Hatcher the Bear after founder Edith Hatcher Harcum, competing in NJCAA Region 19.[1]