HARRISBURG, PA — As part of its continuing celebration of its 25th year of incorporation into the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is pleased to announce that the University’s website — HarrisburgU.edu — has been rebuilt from the ground up.
The project went beyond a website reskin; it represents months of planning and considering how a modern STEM university website should look, work, and feel in 2026. Here’s a look at what changed, what it means for HU’s brand identity, and the reasoning behind it.
The Navigation: Organized Around People
Before: The old menu read like an org chart: About HU, Academics & Research, Admissions, Tuition & Financial Aid, HU Experience, and a catch-all called “Links For” that routed prospective students, veterans, working professionals, and community members to the right corner of the site. We realized the navigation wasn’t doing its job on its own, and it placed the focus more on departments than on audiences and their needs.
After: The new navigation is organized around the people who use it and the moments that bring them here: About, Academics, Admissions, Student Life, Professional Development, and Community & Alumni. “Links For” is gone; each audience now has a front door with its name on it. Student Life, previously tucked inside “HU Experience,” steps up to the top level, because campus life is a top-of-mind question for anyone choosing a university.
The most important change is the smallest: Apply Now is no longer a modest text link. It’s now a bright, persistent button anchoring the top of every page. The most important action a visitor can take on the site now reads like an invitation instead of an afterthought.
The Layout: From Frames to Full Immersion
Before: In a way, the old site kept its photography at arm’s length. Page headers split the screen — headline on the left, photo in a tidy box on the right. It was orderly, but it treated images of HU students doing remarkable things as illustrations rather than the main event.
After: Photography now runs full-bleed, edge to edge, with headlines set directly on the image in bold italic display type. The homepage makes the same move. “We Do Things Differently” is no longer a statement in a white card floating beside a photo; it’s a declaration emblazoned on our most important digital real estate.
The Palette: Committing to Color
Before: The old palette led with muted tans and golds against white, with the University’s deep green mostly reserved for headings and the footer. It was handsome but understated. But understated can be a liability.
After: The new site commits to Pennsylvania Green as its foundation — in the header, the footer, and full sections of the page — with Capitol Green as the spark: chevron accents, highlighted words, and wayfinding labels. Around that core, a working palette of Susquehanna Blue, Blue Velvet, and Teal color-code critical pathways so that Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral, and Non-Degree options are distinguishable at a glance.
Consistency Everywhere
The changes carry through to the pages that visitors use most each day.
The Program Finder pairs a bold filter panel with color-coded degree listings.
The News section trades basic text links for branded, patterned cards.
Even the footer — often a site’s “junk drawer” — got the full HU branding treatment: a confident green field, patterned and organized, with search, contact, and quick links exactly where you’d expect them.
What’s Next?
The redesigned HarrisburgU.edu is live now. Over the coming weeks, we’ll continue refining pages, tuning navigation based on how visitors use the site, and expanding content across programs and schools.
We’re glad you’re on this journey with us! We hope you enjoy the new look and feel of the website. If you have any questions about Harrisburg University’s uniquely STEM-focused, workforce-attuned approach to higher education, get in touch with us today.
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ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is an independent, nonprofit university offering degrees in advanced manufacturing, engineering, robotics, nursing, cybersecurity, and other critical fields. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, HU serves a diverse student body through bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs that link learning and research with practical applications. For information about HU’s affordable STEM degrees and professional development programs, call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay in the know by following Harrisburg University on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
MEDIA CONTACT
Do you have questions about this story? Interested in lining up an interview? Please contact Dan Wilhelm, Director of Communications for Harrisburg University, at DWilhelm@HarrisburgU.edu or 717.901.5100×1724.
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