Peirce College launches Bachelor of Science degree completion programs at Harcum's Bryn Mawr campus

Custom-built partnership offers students a streamlined path to a four-year degree in a familiar setting.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- To broaden accessibility to higher education in the Philadelphia region, Peirce College and Harcum College have partnered to bring affordable bachelor's degree programs to Harcum's campus.

Peirce will offer two bachelor's degree programs at Harcum's Bryn Mawr campus—Healthcare Administration and Integrated Leadership Studies—for Harcum graduates seeking to build on the foundation developed during their associate degree studies. Classes begin Jan. 17.

"Peirce and Harcum both have a rich history of fulfilling the needs of a diverse group of students with a wide range of goals," said Peirce College President & CEO James J. Mergiotti. "With this partnership, we have found a way to unify our missions to help more students continue their education, and gain the skills and credentials that will impact the economy of the region."

Those who enroll will be Peirce students and will receive a degree from Peirce upon the completion of the program, but enrollees may elect to become resident students in one of Harcum's two residence halls.  They will also have the unprecedented benefit of access to student services and amenities from both institutions, including Peirce's program specific academic advisors and extensive career development services, as well as Harcum's library and full complement of student services.

"This is a value-add opportunity for Harcum graduates," said Jon Jay DeTemple, president of Harcum College. "Now our alumni can complete a bachelor's degree here, at the campus they know and among the friends and faculty they value."

Approximately 32 percent of Harcum students typically continue on for their bachelor's degree after graduating with their associate degree. The Peirce/Harcum partnership offers a seamless path for new Harcum graduates and a comfortable return to campus for less recent Harcum alumni. Students will be able to transfer up to 90 previously earned credits and receive up to $3,000 in scholarships.

In recent months, Peirce has devoted significant resources to expand its mission of providing adult learners with convenient and affordable access to career-focused degrees. Peirce has introduced Peirce Fit™ across its entire curriculum, allowing students to choose from week-to-week whether to attend class in-person or online. It also launched the only competency-based Information Technology program in Philadelphia, which awards college credit based on a student's ability to prove mastery of skills, not for hours spent in a classroom. Peirce recently introduced additional resources to strengthen its relationships with local employers, providing customized training resources, tuition discount programs and other innovative solutions to improve the skills of the region's workforce.

Applications for the first cohort of Peirce College at Harcum are still being accepted.

About Peirce College

Founded in 1865, Peirce College has been providing working adults with affordable education, flexible classes, and personalized support for more than 150 years. Peirce offers bachelor and associate degree programs in the areas of Business, Healthcare, Information Technology, and Legal Studies, and Master of Science degrees in Healthcare Administration and Organizational Leadership & Management. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, Peirce is a non-profit institution that specializes in serving the unique needs of working adults through both online and on campus education. In 2015, Peirce took life-friendly learning and degree attainment to the next level with the creation of Peirce Fit™, a revolutionary learning format that allows students to choose each week whether to attend class in person or online. Through competency based education in Peirce's IT program, students may also choose a faster, more affordable path to a degree. Peirce College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market St. Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). Additionally, select programs are accredited by The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs, the American Bar Association and the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education.

For more information about Peirce College, call 888.467.3472, or visit www.Peirce.edu. Visit Peirce's blog, Peirce Connections, at http://blog.Peirce.edu. Become a fan of Peirce College on Facebook. Follow @PeirceCollege on Twitter. View the Peirce College YouTube Channel.

About Harcum College

Harcum College, one of Pennsylvania's first independent, associates-degree granting colleges, was founded in Bryn Mawr, PA in 1915, and was the first college in Pennsylvania chartered by the state to grant associate degrees. Harcum offers fully accredited, career-ready majors in nursing, the allied health professions, business, and social sciences on campus and regionally, as well as lifelong learning programs and certificate programs.