He played five seasons of college football for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, setting several school records and finishing as the all-time passing touchdowns leader in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) history.

[1] As a sophomore and junior at Davidson Day School in Davidson, North Carolina, Hartman threw for 6,388 passing yards and 69 touchdowns as a team captain at quarterback, being named first-team all-state as a junior and was given the Charlotte Observer player of the week award four times.

[2] He transferred to Oceanside Collegiate Academy in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, for his senior season and led them to a 7–3 record while throwing for 3,093 yards passing and 29 touchdowns, in addition to nine rushing scores.

[2] He was named ACC Conference rookie of the week following a win on September 29 versus Rice, in which he tied the school record for consecutive completions with 12.

[2] After extensive competition throughout the spring and fall camp, Hartman was the backup quarterback as a sophomore in 2019 behind Jamie Newman, only appearing in four games, thus preserving a redshirt for the season.

[2] He was named starter prior to their next game versus Florida State, and led Wake Forest to a 22–20 victory.

In 2021, Hartman led his team to an 8–0 start, the best in school history as Wake Forest reached the ACC Championship game.

He earned national honors following a game against Army, in which Hartman compiled a career-best 458 passing yards and five touchdowns.

[2][8] He was named the winner of the Brian Piccolo Award for the "most courageous" player in the ACC, as Hartman had suffered from Paget–Schroetter disease and had to undergo surgery early in the season, but only missed one game despite the illness.