C
Average
Score: 52/100
Overall (traditional)
C+
Outcome Rating
56/100 · earnings-weighted

Howard Community College

2-Year Public
📍 Columbia, Maryland 21044
ℹ️
Rating Context: ⚠️ Limited Data Available. Some metrics for this institution are incomplete or unavailable, which may affect the overall grade. Consider researching this school directly for the most current information.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (C) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 26%
Outcomes
C
45/100
Affordability
B
72/100
Resources
B
70/100
Experience
D
42/100
Prestige
F
28/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

8,540
Total Enrollment
26%
Graduation Rate
65%
Retention Rate
13.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$10,654
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Howard Community College ▼

29% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$547,534
Avg Monthly Rent
$2,320
1-Year Change
+1.9%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Howard Community College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$49,020
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$39,195
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$10,500
Median debt at graduation
24%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
26.8%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 21% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 66th percentile among associate-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (MD wage index 1.30). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Howard Community College

Median pay of associate's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$71,307$93,166+15%#146 of 962#540$17,434
Computer and Information Sciences—$80,840+49%#2 of 122#12—
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions—$75,822+22%#44 of 237#118—
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions$72,633$73,439+12%#128 of 560#331$19,200
Management Information Systems and Services—$62,399+10%#5 of 16#12—
Business/Commerce—$52,569+5%#100 of 205#152—
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$22,042$47,008+7%#225 of 947#649$9,500

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Howard Community College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $547,534
  • Avg rent near campus: $2,320/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 21075 (3.9% cap, Elkridge)

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Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $7,155 $9,342

Financial Aid

61%
Receive Any Aid
39%
Receive Pell Grants
8%
Take Out Loans
$10,654
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$9,076
$30,001 - $48,000$9,616
$48,001 - $75,000$10,842
$75,001 - $110,000$13,205
$110,001+$14,837

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

General Studies 465 grads/yr Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 170 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 160 grads/yr Business/Commerce, General 51 grads/yr Management Information Systems, General 49 grads/yr Computer and Information Sciences, General 36 grads/yr Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist 20 grads/yr Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping 20 grads/yr Restaurant, Culinary, and Catering Management/Manager 18 grads/yr Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist 16 grads/yr Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training 16 grads/yr Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and Ultrasound Technician 15 grads/yr Dental Hygiene/Hygienist 14 grads/yr Community Health and Preventive Medicine 13 grads/yr Engineering, General 13 grads/yr Child Care and Support Services Management 12 grads/yr Education, General 11 grads/yr Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection, Other 10 grads/yr Drafting and Design Technology/Technician, General 9 grads/yr Physical Therapy Assistant 6 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Howard Community College's top programs commonly pursue.

Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78k/yr 183,400 jobs
Registered nurses
$94k/yr 3,391,000 jobs
Nursing instructors and teachers, postsecondary
$80k/yr 91,600 jobs
Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr 619,500 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs
Industrial production managers
$121k/yr 241,900 jobs
Administrative services managers
$108k/yr 271,200 jobs

Student Demographics

8,540
Total Students
58%
Women
52%
Traditional Age (18-24)
29%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 24%
Hispanic 13%
Black 29%
Asian 14%
Two or More 6%
Non-Resident 6%

🏠 Living Arrangements

Off-Campus (Renters) 29%
With Family 71%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~2,460 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 46%
Hybrid (Some Online) 31%
Fully Online 23%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 52%
25-64 (Adult) 27%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Howard Community College?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend Howard Community College?
Tuition at Howard Community College is $7,155 for in-state students and $9,342 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $10,654.
What is the graduation rate at Howard Community College?
The graduation rate at Howard Community College is 26%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Howard Community College a good school?
Howard Community College has a Repit College Score of 52/100 (Grade: C). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (B): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (D): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Howard Community College?
Howard Community College has a total enrollment of 8,540 students.
Is there rental demand near Howard Community College?
Yes! Approximately 29% of students at Howard Community College live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 2,460 students who need rental housing near campus. This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Columbia area.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Howard Community College — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology