A History of the Hershey Junior College

Hershey Community Building, circa 1934

One of the most recognizable landmarks in town is the Hershey Community Building located at 14 East Chocolate Avenue. Did you know it was once home to the Hershey Junior College? This post-secondary institution, which began 88 years ago, plays a large part in the history of Derry Township.

In 1938, as the Great Depression continued to grip the nation, Milton Hershey saw another way to benefit his community. While he had provided jobs for adults in his chocolate factory and various enterprises, he increased opportunities for high school graduates in Derry Township by transforming a portion of the Hershey Community Building into Hershey Junior College (HJC).

​Mr. Hershey designed the college as a “progressive experiment" in educational equity. At a time when college was a luxury few could afford, HJC offered a two-year, tuition-free higher education to the children of Hershey employees and residents of Derry Township. Located within the ornate and multi-purposed Hershey Community Building, students studied under the same roof that housed a library, a theater, a gymnasium, and a swimming pool. The college proved so successful during its first two years that Mr. Hershey proposed plans for a new facility with room for up to 1500 students and similar amenities to those they enjoyed in the Community Building.  World War II intervened, and the school was never built.

The college offered three specialized academic tracks or divisions, designed to meet the needs of a changing world: General Academic, Business, and Technical.  The curriculum included Business Administration, General Business, Science, Engineering, Healing Arts, Education, and General Technical. Students were only responsible for the cost of books and supplies, which amounted to between $25 and $40. To graduate and receive the diploma, students had to complete a minimum of 64 credits and 64 honor points. 

Beyond the classroom, HJC was a vibrant hub of activity. Students participated in intercollegiate sports like basketball and tennis, joined drama groups, and even performed in a full orchestra.

HJC was a pioneer in its time. It became the first institution of its kind in Pennsylvania, and a vehicle for social mobility.  More than just a school; it was a resource for everyone. During World War II, the college held evening classes for factory workers supporting the war effort, and adults in the community were able to take courses, using HJC as a stepping-stone to further their education as a pathway to career development.

With the opening of the Harrisburg Area Community College in 1964 and the HJC outgrowing its original home, the college closed its doors in 1965, having graduated 1,271 students. To this day, it is a powerful reminder of a business mogul who believed that one of the best investments he could make was in the youth of Derry Township.