1926 - Penn State set up a program in accountancy, conducted by Engineering Extension and taught by professors who commuted to York from State College, at the newly built York YMCA.
1939 - The federal government designated Penn State, the land-grant institution of the Commonwealth, to conduct engineering, science, management and defense training programs in York.
1949 - A one year, full-time, day technical program offering a diploma to its graduates was instituted. Penn State York dates its official beginning from this time.
1953 - An important program change took place with the initiation of the two-year associate degree programs in engineering technology. The two programs originally offered were electrical technology and drafting and design technology.
1966 - New facilities were opened and a limited bachelor's degree program was offered in engineering and science.
1968 - The first two years of almost all of the University's baccalaureate majors were available. Associate degree programs were expanded with the addition of the associate degree in Letters, Arts, and Sciences.
1970 - The associate degree programs were expanded with the addition of computer science.
1986 - The associate degree programs were expanded with the addition of Business Administration. Associate degree students were now able to transfer to some baccalaureate programs and complete their degree requirements in two additional years.
1994 - The Focused Master's in Education degree in Teaching and Curriculum began in York through a partnership with Penn State Harrisburg. The program, built with the input of teachers and district superintendents, provides a course of study designed to enhance the skills of K-12 teachers in York County.
1997 - The Bachelor of Science in Business, the campus’ first four-year degree, was initiated and an associate degree program in Human Development and Family Studies was also put in place.
1999 - The associate degree in Information Sciences and Technology was initiated at this time.
2001 - The bachelor of arts in Letters, Arts, and Sciences (Liberal Studies option) was launched in spring 2001 and by fall 2001, the campus added new bachelor’s degree programs in Information Sciences and Technology, Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology, and Communication Arts and Sciences.
2002 – The bachelor of science in Science began in the spring and the bachelor of arts in English started in the fall of 2002.
2003 - The associate degree in Nanofabrication Manufacturing Technology, Engineering and Science options, were added bringing the campus’ number of associate degrees to seven.
2004 – The bachelor of arts in American Studies began in the fall bringing the total of four-year degrees students can complete at Penn State York to eight.
2005 – The bachelor of arts in Human Development and Family Studies, Community Services option, began in the fall bringing the total of four-year degrees students can complete at Penn State York to nine. The bachelor of science in Business was changed and renamed to the bachelor of science in Business Administration.
2009 – The bachelor of arts in American Studies was discontinued.
2015 – The bachelor of science in Biology was added in spring, and the bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees in Psychology were added in fall. The associate degree in Letters, Arts and Sciences and the bachelor of arts in Letters, Arts and Sciences were discontinued in the fall.
