About HCC

Public Information and Government Relations

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 15 buildings and includes a full-service business incubator, numerous gardens and an outdoor amphitheater.

HCC is embracing the field of biotechnology through the creation of a wet labs facility for lease by start-up biotech and life science firms which opened in 2008, as well the introduction of biotechnology curriculum which began in the fall of 2007.

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: New building projects are underway on the HCC campus. In spring 2010, HCC will begin construction on a brand new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Building.

This facility will provide approximately 65,000 square feet of laboratories, classrooms, and faculty offices in a five-story structure to be built between the existing Science and Classroom Buildings. The STEM Building will contain green roof components, as well as solar, wind, and geothermal energy components.

In late fall 2010, HCC will also renovate the Kepler Theater. This renovation includes an addition that will house a dance studio, gallery, classrooms, practice rooms, art rooms, and faculty offices. The renovation space will also include expanded dressing rooms, a costume shop, and extended wardrobe storage.

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.