With over 8,500 college students arriving on our campuses each August, Williamsport is a College Town. We are home to Lycoming College, Pennsylvania College of Technology, and Newport Business Institute. Our college students are a great asset to the city while they are here. They provide many hours of community service such as tutoring of young students, working with Habitat for Humanity, providing Student Interns to many of our local businesses and industries, and creating a positive economic boost to our Downtown businesses. The colleges of Williamsport serve as a catalyst for community economic, social, and cultural development through meetings, seminars, cultural events, technical consulting services, applied projects in the community, and other activities as appropriate.
Penn College is a special mission affiliate of Penn State, committed to applied technology education. With more than 6,000 students, Penn College has the second highest enrollment in the Penn State system. Bachelor's degrees, associate's degrees, and certificate majors offered represent more than 100 different career areas. In addition, through Workforce Development and Continuing Education, Penn College offers noncredit professional and personal enrichment classes for the community. The Penn College campus also is home to Le Jeune Chef, one of the area's most popular fine dining restaurants, as well as an art gallery that is open to the public.
Although Lycoming College is one of the 50 oldest institutions of higher learning in the United States, it is a community with new vitality, ongoing momentum, and a nationally-recognized commitment to quality education.
Newport Business Institute is a coeducational institute offering career oriented programs in the field of business. The school concentrates on business instruction as the fundamental pursuit of the institution.
Stop right there! Quickly go and turn off the microwave containing your "dinner", another bowl of Ramen noodles. Get off the internet where you were shopping and go grab your friend from down the hall because it's time to check out Williamsport! That's right there is a world out there beyond your dorm and away from campus.
With the help of this website that has been created for you, the college student, you will be able to discover the shops and places that will help Williamsport feel like your home away from home. Whatever the reason, use this website as your guide and hop on the College Town Shuttle to find the food, the shops and the entertainment that will help you find your home away from home. Right here in Williamsport.
No money for gas? Don't have a car on campus? You've got free transportation around the area through River Valley Transit, the local bus service. All you need to do is show them your student ID when you get on the bus. Check out the below link to also find out more about the College Town Shuttle that runs Thursday – Saturday evenings. It's the simple, easy and smart way to get around Williamsport when you're out having fun.
One College Avenue, Williamsport PA 17701 · (570) 326-3761 or (800) 367-9222
Pennsylvania College of Technology, an affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University offers degrees that work .
Welcome to Penn College.
Small classes, faculty with real work experience, and access to computers and industry-standard equipment contribute to strong graduate placement rates, which exceed 95 percent overall and 100 percent in many majors.
Penn College is a special mission affiliate of Penn State, committed to applied technology education. With more than 6,500 students enrolled in bachelor-degree, associate-degree, and certificate majors, Penn College has the second highest enrollment in the Penn State system.
Degrees representing more than 100 different career fields are offered by the following academic schools:
Business & Computer Technologies
Construction & Design Technologies
Health Sciences
Hospitality
Industrial & Engineering Technologies
Integrated Studies
Natural Resources Management
Transportation Technology
Technology impacts every career in the modern workplace. Penn College is the state's premier technical college. No other institution in the state offers such a wide range of applied technology offerings.
Business and industry connections are key ingredients in Penn College's success as a leader in Pennsylvania higher education and workforce development.
The College's main campus is located in Williamsport, PA.
While 1941 was the year the Williamsport Technical Institute was formally established, programming actually had been in place since 1914, when a small high school industrial shop became home to adult education and training programs. Many of the first students to enroll were disabled veterans from World War I who needed immediate retraining.
In the 1920's, the focus shifted from industrial arts to vocational training. That shift helped combat the effects of the Depression in the 1930's. Cooperation between the school and local industry led to the development of a plan for attacking rising unemployment through retraining. "The Williamsport Plan" was copied throughout the United States and encompassed cooperative training of the Civilian Conservation Corps and the National Youth Administration.
World War II led to even more change in the 1940's. Training to meet defense industry needs was crucial; so the institute operated on a 24-hour-a-day schedule. Part of that training involved programs for individuals with handicaps, who were a big part of the war effort. Even before the "G.I. Bill" was passed in 1944, training also was being offered for returning World War II vets. The war production training and special training for disabled veterans led to the institute becoming one of the nation's largest providers of training and retraining for people with physical handicaps.
Williamsport Area Community College, founded 1965
The passage of the Community College Act of 1963 led to the establishment of Williamsport Area Community College, on the foundation of the former Williamsport Technical Institute. The College used the technical institute programs and facilities as the starting point for growth and development. Area school districts served as local sponsors for the Community College. By the 1970's, service to those sponsoring districts included both credit and non-credit courses offered in Williamsport and at the new Earth Science Center near Allenwood, as well as at a variety of school district locations.
The 1980's brought more change. The Community College established a North Campus to serve needs of the residents of Pennsylvania's Northern Tier. Enrollment throughout the College was climbing steadily, with students coming from many areas outside the College's service area. While the physical plant grew and the enrollment expanded, local school districts became increasingly concerned about costs and the College faced eroding sponsor support. The City of Williamsport assumed the sponsor role on a temporary basis until 1989, when the College was named an affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University.
Pennsylvania College of Technology, founded 1989
As an affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University, Penn College is realizing its full potential as Pennsylvania's premier technical college. Continuing in a tradition of excellence, Penn College is a strong force in higher education in Pennsylvania, offering certificate, associate and baccalaureate degree programs. Students from around the world are enjoying the benefits of state-of-the-art programs in traditional and emerging technologies.
Unique bachelor of science degree programs are providing new opportunities for students to build upon their technical background and advance into management and specialty positions. Regular, new additions to the Penn College program portfolio are training men and women, not only to meet existing workplace demands, but to prepare for the careers of tomorrow.
Pennsylvania College of Technology is a special mission affiliate of The Pennsylvania State University, focused on applied technology, and is granted the benefits and responsibilities of The Pennsylvania State University as a state-related institution and an instrumentality of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
College Philosophy - We believe in the dignity and worth of all individuals. We further believe that learning is a lifelong process and that all individuals should have opportunities for lifelong education. Education should help individuals realize their maximum potential academically, culturally and technically, while also providing for personal enrichment. To prosper in a complex and changing society, individuals must learn to think independently, value logical and tested conclusions, develop problem solving abilities, and function collaboratively. The successful application of learning contributes significantly to health and happiness and benefits the organizations and communities in which individuals live and work; the College is an integral part of society and must respond to identified needs and interests. In the delivery of educational services, there is no substitute for excellence.
College Mission - Pennsylvania College of Technology offers an array of academic programs - in a student centered learning environment - at the baccalaureate, associate, and certificate levels with an emphasis on technology. The College offers nationally recognized programs and maintains its commitment to hands-on, experiential learning.
Pennsylvania College of Technology seeks to implement its philosophy by providing:
Opportunities to develop intellectually, ethically, socially, culturally and personally.
Quality academic programs emphasizing preparation for pre-professional, technological, and service careers.
Accessible full- and part-time educational opportunities and services that address a wide spectrum of individual needs and abilities through varied formats, schedules and geographic locations.
Educational programming responsive to economic and employment realities.
Enhanced learning opportunities through cooperation with industry, business, government, other educational institutions and through international experiences.
Comprehensive majors that integrate communications, math, science, art, technology, humanities, interpersonal skills, problem solving, critical thinking, information literacy and health and safety.
Opportunities to develop skills needed to enter and succeed in academic majors.
Opportunities to gain skills and knowledge, and to expand interests through lifelong learning.
Assistance with career planning, employment preparation and advanced study.
An environment that fosters lifelong learning, creativity, and respect for difference.
Excellence in instruction and appropriate educational opportunities are the College's highest priorities.
Information for Your Visit
Campus Tours
Schedule a campus tour . It is an important part of your decision-making process. We offer a variety of tours, depending upon your interest and major.
Open House - March 28, 2009
Open House offers the best opportunity to see the entire campus in action. Register now and plan to attend the next campus Open House.
Virtual Tour
Visit Penn College right now by taking our virtual tour .
