Military Service Members, Veterans, and Dependents
Howard Community College welcomes the opportunity to assist service members, their families, and veterans in achieving their academic goals. HCC has been named as one of Military Advanced Education’s Top Military Friendly Colleges and Universities. The college signed the Department of Defense Memorandum of Understanding (DoD MOU), The 8 Keys to Veterans' Success, and adheres to the Principles of Excellence. The college also serves participants in the Veterans’ Educational Assistance program.
The application fee is waived for all service members, honorably discharged veterans, and their dependents. In keeping with the DoD MOU and the Principles of Excellence, all active duty service members, honorably discharged veterans, and their dependents are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which will provide each student with the full complement of financial aid available. Likewise, all service members, honorably discharged veterans, and their dependents are also required to submit transcripts for all prior learning, including military experience, to ensure that all previously earned credit is evaluated toward his or her current area of study.
In accordance with Maryland state law, all active duty service members, their spouses, and financially dependent children are immediately eligible for in-county tuition if the service member is stationed in, resides in, or is domiciled in Maryland. Spouses and financially dependent children may continue to receive in-county tuition if the active duty service member no longer meets the requirements and the spouse/child remains continuously enrolled. Spouses and dependents of active duty service members or veterans are also immediately eligible for in-state tuition, consistent with the federal Choice Act, if they reside in the State and are using Chapter 33 benefits under the GI Bill. See the office of records, registration, and veterans' affairs (RRVA) to complete the required paperwork for this tuition rate adjustment.
The college has Veterans Affairs services offered through RRVA. It also has a Veterans Deferred Payment Plan. An honorably discharged veteran is immediately eligible for in-state tuition, consistent with the federal Choice Act, if he or she resides in the State, was discharged in the last three years, and is using Chapters 30 or 33 benefits under the GI Bill. A veteran qualifies for in-county tuition, regardless of legal residency, if: a) the veteran presents the college with documentation that he or she attended a public or private secondary school in Maryland for three years; and b) the veteran either graduated from a public or private secondary school in Maryland, or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in Maryland; and c) the veteran was honorably discharged within the last four years. See RRVA to complete the required paperwork for this tuition rate adjustment. More information about veterans benefits is located in the Payment Assistance section.
Members of the Maryland National Guard are entitled to a fifty percent discount if they are legal residents of Howard County. Members of the Maryland National Guard who reside outside the county or the state are entitled to a twenty-five percent discount of their applicable tuition rate; members of the Maryland National Guard may also qualify for the in-county tuition rate in addition to the discount. Eligible students are required to submit the State Tuition Waiver Letter each term. See RRVA to complete the required paperwork for this tuition rate adjustment.
Service members, veterans, and dependents should contact RRVA for information on enrollment, transcript evaluation, and tuition assistance; also see Military Education and Training and Pay for College. Further information regarding tuition rates, tuition assistance, and veterans' affairs is available at howardcc.edu/military. Military personnel should also refer to the Veterans' Affairs information in the Pay for College section.