·Public Community College
Howard Community College (HCC) is a public community college in Columbia, Maryland, founded in 1966 to serve Howard County. HCC enrolls approximately 8,540 credit students, with over 20,000 individuals served annually through credit and non-credit programs. The Dragons compete in the Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference, and the college draws students from more than 104 countries reflecting Howard County's remarkable international diversity. Located between Baltimore and Washington DC in one of Maryland's most affluent counties, HCC provides students with outstanding access to top-tier employers in technology, healthcare, and government contracting. The college maintains an open admissions policy and offers a comprehensive range of associate degrees, certificates, and transfer pathways, with strong articulation agreements with the University of Maryland system.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
—
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$10836
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $9,624
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
