Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Harcum College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
2.5Avg GPA
$42,113Annual Cost
$46,827Grad Salary
53.4%Pell Grant
Avg GPA
2.5
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Need-Based Aid
53.4% receive Pell
Harcum College, founded in 1915 as one of America's first two-year colleges, maintains its historic campus near Philadelphia. The 12-acre Bryn Mawr location features health sciences labs, dental clinic, and animal care facilities. Harcum specializes in allied health, veterinary technology, and fashion design programs with about 1,000 students.
Harcum is unranked among national universities but holds distinction as Pennsylvania's first independent junior college. The college boasts a 94% licensure exam pass rate for health professions graduates. Unique aspects include partnerships with the Philadelphia Zoo and Main Line Health system. The suburban location provides access to Philadelphia's professional opportunities.
Harcum College Acceptance Rate
Harcum College runs an open-access admission policy — with a 100% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
2.50 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.30 – 2.49
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.05
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Harcum College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Harcum College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Harcum College reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Harcum College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Harcum College is 2.5. That makes admissions here less selective on GPA specifically. Most admitted students carry a mix of B's and C's.
A solid SAT or ACT score is the fastest way to strengthen an application in this range.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently — for an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 2.70–2.90.Check Your Admission Chances at Harcum College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Harcum College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Harcum College Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Harcum College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Harcum College Without SAT or ACT?
Harcum College's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Harcum College
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into Harcum College is the easy part — what matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Front-load ALL your general education courses before applying to Occupational Therapy Assistant or similar allied health programs
Harcum requires a specific list of general education courses - including Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Microbiology, both English Composition courses, College Mathematics, Introductory Psychology, Human Development, Sociology, and a Humanities elective - to be completed prior to admission into certain allied health professional programs, not concurrently with them. Sequence and complete this full gen-ed list first, either at Harcum or via transfer credit, before submitting your professional program application, since incomplete gen-eds can hold up your admission entirely.
Write the optional OTA or PTA essay even though it's not required - these prompts are genuinely specific
Harcum's Occupational Therapy Assistant essay asks specifically "Why I Want to Enroll in Harcum's Occupational Therapy Assistant Program," while the Physical Therapist Assistant essay asks you to define physical therapy, describe how you decided on this career, and envision your future practice - detailed, program-specific prompts, not generic personal statements. Submit these optional essays anyway in a genuinely selective program, using the specific prompt language rather than a repurposed general essay, since a targeted response signals real program fit to admissions.
Use the Cohen Dental Center to build real clinical exposure if you're in Dental Hygiene
Harcum operates the Cohen Dental Center, an on-campus, community-serving dental clinic where Dental Hygiene students gain hands-on patient care experience - a genuine clinical facility integrated directly into coursework rather than an off-site placement you'd need to arrange yourself. If you're a prospective Dental Hygiene student, ask specifically about Cohen Dental Center caseload and patient population during your program visit, since this on-campus clinical access is a real structural advantage over programs that rely entirely on external clinical sites.
Take the two-day VTNE prep course before your licensing exam
Harcum offers a specific two-day course designed to help Veterinary Technology students prepare for the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) - a targeted, named exam-prep resource distinct from your regular coursework. Schedule this course close to your intended VTNE test date rather than relying solely on your general coursework retention, since it's specifically structured around exam content and format.
Expert Insight:
A specific and easy-to-miss detail is that Harcum's general education prerequisite list for certain allied health programs (Anatomy & Physiology I & II, Microbiology, English Composition I & II, College Mathematics, Introductory Psychology, Human Development, Sociology, Humanities elective) must be completed prior to admission, not during the program - a student who applies to the professional program while still working through these courses concurrently may find their application incomplete or delayed rather than simply "in progress."
Harcum College Profile
Full Name
Harcum College
City
Bryn Mawr
State
Pennsylvania
ZIP Code
19010-3476
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSACHE)
Is a Harcum College Degree Worth It?
Whether Harcum College is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals — here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $61,700, with a graduate unemployment rate of 4.27%.
How much does a degree from Harcum College Cost?
The sticker price is $42,113/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
53.4% of students receive a Pell Grant and 65.6% take federal loans at Harcum College — file your FAFSA early and list Harcum College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Harcum College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $46,827 — about 15% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at Harcum College
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Harcum College Admissions
Median earnings for Harcum College graduates sit around $46,827 a year.
Harcum College costs roughly $42,113 a year — most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
With 53.4% of Harcum College students on a Pell Grant, need-based aid odds here are strong — an early FAFSA filing naming Harcum College is the key move.
Admitted students at Harcum College average a 2.5 GPA.
Harcum College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor — but landing at or above 2.2 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.1, Harcum College becomes a harder reach — though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
Harcum College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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