Harrisburg Area Community College Nursing: Programs, NCLEX & Requirements (2026)
Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) offers stackable PN and ADN pathways with multi-campus clinical options in Central Pennsylvania. This guide summarizes TEAS rules, 2025-26 tuition tiers, and school-reported Class of 2024 outcomes. Confirm every detail with HACC and the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
Contents
Quick Facts
Key Takeaway
HACC stacks a four-semester PN certificate with an ADN so licensed LPNs can continue with additional nursing and general-education courses—clinical nursing is offered on multiple campuses (Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, York) with day and part-time ADN options depending on location.
Overview & Why Students Choose HACC
Harrisburg Area Community College is Central Pennsylvania’s community college, headquartered in Harrisburg with nursing instruction and student services also at Gettysburg, Lancaster, and York. Nursing is a limited-admission clinical sequence: students typically start in HACC’s Allied Health AAS framework, meet prerequisites and TEAS benchmarks, attend a mandatory nursing information session, then apply to either the PN certificate or ADN program.
HACC emphasizes stackable credentials—students can complete PN, earn a Pennsylvania LPN license, and move into the RN program with an official LPN-to-RN transitional track rather than treating nursing as a single, monolithic degree.
HACC publishes cohort outcomes on its RN and LPN pages (e.g., Class of 2024 NCLEX and job placement percentages). The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing also issues program-level NCLEX summaries in board education materials; methodology may differ from HACC’s consumer narrative. Confirm the latest cohort with both HACC and the Board.
Reasons students choose HACC nursing
Multi-campus clinical access
Day PN programs run at Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York; ADN students use Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York combinations depending on full-time vs part-time track.
Clear TEAS and session rules
HACC publishes TEAS Version 7 minimum composites (70 RN / 60 PN), three-year score validity for tests after March 1, 2024 with in-person HACC testing, and mandatory Zoom or on-campus information sessions.
Documented stackable pathways
PN graduates with a PA license can transition into ADN coursework; the LPN-to-RN track formalizes advanced standing with PA Board licensure requirements spelled out on HACC’s transitional page.
Transparent consumer numbers
HACC lists completion, NCLEX, and job placement percentages for a defined graduating class—use these figures with the understanding they are school-reported and tied to a specific cohort year.
Nursing Programs Offered
HACC’s health careers materials describe three nursing pathways. The lists below mirror HACC’s RN, PN, and LPN-to-RN pages (March 2026). HACC does not market standalone BSN, MSN, or DNP degrees in these undergraduate nursing tracks.
Pre-licensure: Practical Nursing (PN / LPN)
Practical Nursing Certificate
Four-semester certificate leading to eligibility for NCLEX-PN; full-time day clinical cohorts at Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York per HACC. Program is approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and accredited by ACEN (HACC cites continuing accreditation for PN).
Pre-licensure: Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN / RN)
Nursing Associate in Science (ADN)
Graduates earn a Nursing Associate in Science and meet eligibility requirements for NCLEX-RN. Full-time day ADN is offered at Gettysburg, Harrisburg, and Lancaster; part-time ADN adds York along with those campuses.
Advanced standing pathway
Nurse — LPN Transitional Track
For graduates who hold a Pennsylvania practical nursing license. Students enter the clinical sequence at NURS 142 and 143 and may test out of additional courses per HACC. Admission is capacity-limited.
Course numbering, clinical campuses, and catalog titles can change. Use HACC’s Admission Criteria and Essential Requirements PDF, RN/LPN web pages, and the Nursing Student Handbook as primary sources.
NCLEX-RN Pass Rate
According to Pennsylvania’s 2024–2025 RN NCLEX five-year spreadsheet, the Harrisburg Area Community College ADN row lists 88.08% first-time (340 of 386 testers) for Oct 1, 2024–Sep 30, 2025 (leftmost column). HACC also publishes Class of 2024 nursing outcomes on its RN/PN pages—the table below keeps those school-reported percentages alongside the Board figure so you can see how cohort labels differ.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN first-time pass (PA DOS, Oct 2024–Sep 2025) | 88.08% (340 / 386, HACC ADN row) |
| NCLEX-RN pass rate (HACC Class of 2024) | 83.77% (HACC nursing program pages, school-reported) |
| Source (Board) | 2024–2025 RN NCLEX spreadsheet (PDF) |
| Program completion (Class of 2024, RN) | 73.57% (HACC, school-reported) |
| Source | HACC Nurse-RN · HACC Nurse-LPN. Confirm later cohorts with HACC and the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing. |
NCLEX-PN (practical nursing)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-PN pass rate (Class of 2024) | 91.38% (HACC, school-reported) |
| Program completion (Class of 2024, PN) | 68.87% (HACC, school-reported) |
NCLEX outcomes change by cohort and definition (first-time tester vs program-reported aggregate). Always confirm the latest pass rates with the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing and HACC nursing administration.
International Students & Internationally Educated Nurses
HACC links an international credential evaluation policy from its nursing pages. Treat the items below as a planning checklist—not legal, immigration, or licensure advice—and confirm requirements with HACC admissions, the International Office (if applicable), CGFNS or other evaluators, and the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
- English-language proficiency: Confirm minimum scores and accepted exams with HACC admissions for nursing and allied health pathways.
- Transcript / credential evaluation: HACC references an approved international credential evaluation procedure (see the admissions PDF linked from nursing pages).
- Pennsylvania Board of Nursing: For licensure by examination or endorsement, review PA BON instructions for internationally educated nurses, transcripts, and NCLEX eligibility.
- Immigration & visa: Limited-access clinical programs may have restrictions for certain visa categories; verify with HACC and your immigration counsel before assuming clinical placement eligibility.
Policies change frequently. Verify with HACC’s international office and the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
Admissions: A Realistic Look
HACC nursing clinical seats are competitive and separate from general college admission. Every applicant must attend a nursing information session within nine months of applying, earn qualifying scores on TEAS Version 7, and meet coursework benchmarks such as Biology 121 (Anatomy & Physiology I) with at least a C before the first clinical term. Meeting minimums does not guarantee admission; HACC uses a points-based review where the highest eligible TEAS scores factor into ranking.
Application timeline
| Entry Term / Cohort | Opens / status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| York RN — Summer 2026 | Closed (per HACC March 10, 2026 clinical page) | Watch the clinical application page for future York cycles. |
| RN — Fall 2026 (Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster) | Application link expected April 1, 2026 | Confirm on Nursing Clinical Application. |
| RN — Spring 2027 (multi-campus) | Typically opens Aug. 1 | Exact date announced on the clinical application page. |
| LPN — Fall 2026 | Application materials expected April 1, 2026 | Session, TEAS 60+, and prerequisite rules apply. |
Admissions snapshot
| Factor | Details |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate (nursing) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Academic benchmarks | Download Admission Criteria and Essential Requirements for GPA, course grades, and progression policies. |
| TEAS | TEAS Version 7 required; RN applicants need composite 70+, PN applicants 60+ (HACC clinical application page, March 2026). |
| Information session | Mandatory within nine months of applying; register via HACC’s Cognito Forms link on the clinical application page. |
Honest tips
Schedule your information session early, prepare for in-person TEAS testing on a HACC campus if you test after March 1, 2024, and plan Biology 121 so it is complete before your first clinical term. Because cohorts fill quickly, build a parallel academic plan with a nursing advisor even while prerequisites are in progress.
Tuition & Cost of Attendance
HACC publishes credit-based tuition plus institutional, capital outlay (when applicable), and technology fees for Academic Year 2025–26 covering Fall 2025 through Summer 2026. Sponsored Pennsylvania residents living in one of 22 sponsoring school districts pay lower combined rates when eligibility paperwork is on file.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Sponsored PA resident total (2025–26) | $239.75 per credit (tuition + standard fees for 1 credit example on HACC table) |
| Non-sponsored PA resident total (2025–26) | $343.50 per credit (1-credit example) |
| Out-of-state total (2025–26) | $458.00 per credit (1-credit example) |
| Nursing program estimates | HACC provides PDF cost worksheets such as RN estimated expenses and combined RN/PN resources linked from the LPN page. |
| Source | HACC Tuition and Due Dates (table updated July 13, 2026). Confirm current amounts with the Bursar before registering. |
Student Outcomes & Career Prospects
HACC’s RN and PN web pages publish completion, NCLEX, and job-placement statistics for the Class of 2024. Treat these metrics as school-reported cohort data—confirm methodology and newer graduates with HACC and compare licensure exam performance against Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing releases.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| NCLEX-RN pass rate | 88.08% first-time (340/386, PA DOS Oct 2024–Sep 2025); 83.77% HACC Class of 2024 (school-reported) |
| NCLEX-PN pass rate | 91.38% (HACC Class of 2024, school-reported) |
| Completion rate (RN / PN) | 73.57% RN · 68.87% PN (HACC Class of 2024) |
| Job placement (HACC-reported, Class of 2024) | RN job placement rate 96%; PN job placement rate 97.6% per HACC nursing pages. Confirm current definitions with the program and the school’s consumer information office. |
| Source | HACC Nurse-RN · HACC Nurse-LPN |
Is HACC the Right Fit for You?
HACC fits learners who want Pennsylvania licensure preparation at the PN or ADN level, can commit to day or part-time clinical schedules on designated campuses, and are ready for a competitive, checklist-driven admission process.
✓ Good fit for students who—
- Prefer a public community college price point and may qualify for sponsoring-district tuition discounts.
- Value stackable credentials (PN first, then ADN) and live within commuting distance of Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster, or York clinical sites.
✗ May not be ideal for students who—
- Need a Bachelor of Science in Nursing without transferring after graduation—HACC’s catalog emphasizes PN/ADN licensure prep, not an on-campus BSN completion.
- Cannot comply with in-person TEAS testing after March 1, 2024, or participate in live (camera-on) nursing information sessions.
Local Healthcare Ecosystem
The Capital Region and south-central Pennsylvania host large tertiary hospitals, community hospitals, ambulatory networks, and long-term care organizations that collectively employ thousands of nurses. HACC’s clinical partners vary by semester and campus; use the overview below as regional context, not a guarantee of placement.
| Organization | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Penn State Health | Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and affiliated clinics anchor Level I trauma, academic medicine, and specialty care roughly 15 minutes east of Harrisburg. |
| UPMC Central Pennsylvania | Includes UPMC Harrisburg and related facilities providing acute, cardiovascular, and regional referral services around the Susquehanna Valley. |
| WellSpan Health | Operates hospitals and ambulatory sites along the I-83 corridor into York and northern Maryland—useful exposure for students assigned to southern tier clinical rotations. |
| Other employers | Post-acute, behavioral health, federally qualified health centers, and school nursing expand job options after licensure. Confirm assigned sites each term with HACC clinical faculty. |
Student Experience & Campus Life
Nursing offices sit on each instructional campus—Harrisburg (Select Medical, Room 218), Lancaster (Main Building, Room 215), York (Leader Building, Room 150), and Gettysburg (731 Old Harrisburg Road, Room 300). Mandatory information sessions blend Zoom and on-campus options with strict camera-on participation, mirroring how clinical communication is practiced.
HACC nursing students rely on dosage calculation requirements, skills labs, and clinical rotations spelled out in the Nursing Student Handbook. Student life also includes broader campus involvement, but clinical attendance and professionalism standards will dominate the schedule once admitted.
Resources & Next Steps
Contact & location
- Campus location
- Harrisburg, PA
- Address
- One HACC Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17110, US
- Telephone
- 800-ABC-HACC (800-222-4222)
- Contact email
- start@hacc.edu
- Website
- hacc.edu
Official links
Your “Next 7 Days” checklist
- Visit the official HACC nursing program pages and download the Nursing Student Handbook and admission PDFs.
- Review the prerequisite course list in the school catalog and compare it to your transcripts.
- Register for TEAS Version 7 through ATI, complete it in person on a HACC campus if you test on or after March 1, 2024, and aim for composite scores of at least 70 (RN) or 60 (PN).
- Draft a list of questions for an admissions counselor or the nursing program advising office.
- Reach out to current nursing students or alumni (e.g. via LinkedIn) to ask about clinical experiences and satisfaction.
- Practice dosage calculations and download the Nursing Student Handbook sections on clinical clearance (immunizations, background checks).
- Check the application deadline for your target term and set reminders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What nursing programs does Harrisburg Area Community College offer?
HACC offers a Practical Nursing certificate, a pre-licensure Nursing Associate in Science (ADN) program, and an LPN-to-RN transitional track for Pennsylvania-licensed LPNs. It does not advertise standalone BSN or graduate nursing degrees in these undergraduate pathways—plan to transfer for a baccalaureate if that is your goal.
What TEAS score does HACC require for RN versus LPN clinical applicants?
HACC’s clinical application page lists TEAS Version 7 with a composite of 70 or higher for RN applicants and 60 or higher for PN applicants, plus mandatory information sessions and prerequisite coursework such as Biology 121 with at least a C by the first clinical term. Minimum scores allow you to apply but do not guarantee admission.
What NCLEX pass rates does HACC publish?
Pennsylvania’s 2024–2025 RN workbook shows HACC ADN at 88.08% first-time (340/386) for Oct 2024–Sep 2025. HACC’s Class of 2024 pages cite 83.77% RN and 91.38% PN with completion/placement metrics—confirm newer cohorts on hacc.edu and the Board.
How much is HACC tuition for 2025–26?
HACC’s Tuition and Due Dates chart shows total per-credit amounts of $239.75 (sponsored Pennsylvania resident example), $343.50 (non-sponsored Pennsylvania resident), and $458.00 (out-of-state) for Academic Year 2025–26 before course-specific fees. Nursing students should also review HACC’s RN/PN estimated expense PDFs.
Which HACC campuses run nursing clinicals?
PN day programs operate at Harrisburg, Lancaster, and York. ADN students attend full-time day programming at Gettysburg, Harrisburg, and Lancaster, while part-time ADN includes York as well. Prerequisite courses may be taken at other HACC locations.
Does HACC offer an LPN-to-RN bridge?
Yes. The Nurse — LPN Transitional Track provides advanced standing in the ADN curriculum for students who completed practical nursing and hold a Pennsylvania LPN license, entering at NURS 142/143 with additional testing options described on HACC’s transitional program page.
What job placement data does HACC report for nursing graduates?
For the Class of 2024, HACC reports a 96% RN job placement rate and a 97.6% PN job placement rate on its nursing FAQs, alongside completion statistics. Confirm how “placement” is defined and request updated figures from HACC consumer information staff.
When do HACC nursing applications open for upcoming cohorts?
As of HACC’s March 2026 clinical application page, Fall 2026 RN applications for Gettysburg, Harrisburg, and Lancaster were scheduled to open April 1, 2026; Spring 2027 RN applications typically open August 1; Fall 2026 LPN applications follow a similar April opening. Applicants must also attend a nursing information session within nine months before applying and meet TEAS Version 7 thresholds. Always verify live deadlines on HACC’s Nursing Clinical Application page.
What should internationally educated nurses check before applying to HACC?
Review HACC’s international credential evaluation PDF, English proficiency expectations, visa limitations for clinical courses, and Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing requirements for licensure eligibility. Policies change—work directly with HACC admissions and the Board rather than relying on informal advice.
References
- HACC — ADN (RN) programhacc.edu … Nurse-RN.cfm
- HACC — Practical Nursing (LPN)hacc.edu … nurse_lpn.cfm
- HACC — Nursing clinical application & TEAShacc.edu … nursing-clinical-application…
- HACC — Tuition & Due Dates (2025–26 table)hacc.edu … TuitionandDueDates
- HACC — Nursing admission criteria PDFNursing-PN-Adm.pdf
- Pennsylvania State Board of Nursingdos.pa.gov … Nursing
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)ncsbn.org
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Registered Nursesbls.gov/ooh
Editorial Standards & Review
About the author: Francesco Di Siena, RN, writes evidence-based nursing education guides for NurseOnShift.
Review: This page was reviewed by Araceli Collado, RN, for NCLEX outcome disclosure alignment, ACEN/PA BON approval language, TEAS and tuition figures versus HACC’s official pages, and community-college program scope.
Disclaimer: This page is for general reference only. It does not constitute professional, admissions, or financial advice. Requirements, deadlines, tuition, and policies change; always verify with the institution and the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing.
Published: 2026-03-31 · Last reviewed: March 31, 2026 · Medical Review Process · Editorial Policy