About HCC

Hagerstown Community College (HCC) was founded in 1946 as Maryland’s first community college. More than 100 programs of study are available for university transfer, career preparation, or personal development, as well as non-credit continuing education courses, customized training programs and Washington County’s adult education program. Associate degrees, certificates and letters of recognition are awarded. HCC is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Special programs include the Job Training Student Resources for adults in need of immediate job skills and the ESSENCE Program, which enables area high school students to take college classes at a discounted rate. The 319-acre picturesque campus encompasses 18 buildings and includes a full-service business incubator, numerous gardens and an outdoor amphitheater.

A major renovation to the Career Programs Building was completed in 2008 and now offers sophisticated laboratory, classroom, and office space for nursing and health sciences programs, as well as The Merle S. Elliott Continuing Education and Conference Center.

Recent Developments:
HCC recently completed construction on a brand new Science, Technology, Engineering, and  Math (STEM) Building, which opened its doors in Jan. 2012. This facility provides 65,000 square-feet of laboratories, classrooms, and faculty offices in a five-story structure that replaces the former Science Building, which was built in 1966.

In Jan. 2012, HCC also completed renovation of the existing Kepler Theater, which was first constructed in 1978. Renovation included the addition of the Performing and Visual Arts Education Center, which features a dance studio, blackbox theater, campus gallery, classrooms, practice rooms, art rooms, and faculty offices. The theater renovation includes expanded dressing rooms, a costume shop, and extended wardrobe storage.

In 2012, the existing Classroom Building and the former Science Building will also be renovated. After renovation, the former Science Building will be renamed the Learning Center and will be home to all developmental programs and tutoring services. These two buildings are scheduled to reopen in 2013.

Accreditation

Hagerstown Community College (HCC) is a two-year public community college offering both transfer and career-oriented programs, as well as continuing education classes. The College has maintained accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools since its first review in 1968 and continues to meet the requirements necessary to maintain that accreditation. HCC is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges.

History

Learn about the history of HCC by viewing the College timeline.

A look at the numbers…

• HCC’s enrollment is at an all-time high, with more than 5,000 credit students and 9,000 non-credit students annually.
• HCC employs approximately 719 employees each year.
• HCC has awarded more than 11,000 degrees and certificates since 1946.
• Three of four HCC students receive some form of financial aid.
• Approximately 700 area high school students are enrolled in HCC’s ESSENCE Program.
• Approximately 70% of Washington County’s nurses and 90% of radiology technicians have been trained at HCC.
• HCC will educate an estimated 70 percent of local high school graduates who go on to college.

Student profile:

-61% of students attend part-time
-67% of students are 25 and younger
-62% of students are female
-14% of students are minorities
-77% of students live in Washington County, 15% percent are from Pennsylvania, 3% are from West Virginia

                                                             HCC's first graduating class: 1948