Howard Community College (Howard CC)

History
How Community College, located in Columbia, Maryland, was founded in 1966 and is the fourteenth of Maryland's sixteen community colleges, two year institutions that serve the local community and offer a variety of resources and programs for educational and career advancement. HCC serves the residents of Howard County and nearby outlying areas. The school's first classes were offered in 1970, to just over 600 students, a number today that exceeds over 28,000 a year. The school motto is “You can get there from here” and prides itself as a starting point for students' postsecondary educations and careers. The mission of the school is to provide pathways for students to achieve their goals. HCC continues to add structures and update facilities as part of its ongoing mission to provide the best education possible, to that end the school is perpetually examining its program offerings, updating them as necessary and adding new programs as needed.

Academics
HCC offers associate's degrees and vocational certificates as well as programs designed to assist students in transferring to four year institutions. HCC serves over 28,000 students annually (some 10,000 of which pursued degree or career programs) and provides a wide variety of programs and courses for every educational need. Career and technical programs provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. Such students will be able to complete duties and tasks professionally thanks to a combination of classroom and practical educations. Academic programs allow students to complete the first two years of a four year education at low cost, and upon completion transfer to a four year institution where they may complete a bachelor's degree.

Programs offered include:

• Liberal Arts
• Business Administration
• Physical Therapist Assistant
• Environmental Science
• Early Childhood Development

Individuals may also take non-credit courses which allows the exploration of personal interests and adult education courses which invites individuals who may not have completed their education to return to school and do so.

Admissions and Financial Aid
Applying to HCC requires students to fill out the standard application form and submit it to the Office of Admissions and Advising along with $25.00 dollars. application and fee and a prospective student must simply fill out the one that is appropriate for him or her. As an open enrollment school, any students who meets the minimum standards for entry will be accepted and allowed to register for classes. Some programs, such as nursing, may require a different

Financial aid is available in the form of loans, grants, and work study programs. Students in need of aid must complete the various forms and supply documentation as noted within those materials to be considered for aid. The most important of these applications is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which will be used to determine eligibility and awards. Scholarships may also be available, often requiring a separate application and awarded for reasons unique to the scholarship. HCC also provides an online financial aid resource through their website outlining the various scholarships, grants and loans available to Maryland students and how to apply for them.