Homeschool benefits: Hagerstown Community College

Home school students in the Early College Access Program at Hagerstown Community College (HCC) get 25% off tuition, which brings the Washington County rate to $99 per credit hour instead of $132 for fall 2026 through summer 2027. Your student must be at least 16 and have a 3.0 GPA or pass placement tests.

By Andrew Garber, founder of TheHomeschoolingCompany. Reviewed August 25, 2026.

Who qualifies

1. Is at least 16

   HCC requires Early College Access students to be at least 16 years old.

2. Has a 3.0 GPA

   A cumulative high school GPA of 3.0, or meeting a Maryland college and career readiness standard, qualifies. Students with a 2.5 to 2.99 GPA take placement tests, and students below 2.5 are not eligible.

3. Is homeschooled

   HCC gives the 25% tuition discount to private, home school, and out-of-state students. Ask Admissions what homeschool records to submit in place of a school transcript.

What the discount saves

HCC's fall 2026 to summer 2027 schedule lists tuition of $132 per credit for Washington County residents and $206 for out-of-county residents, a $20 per credit general college fee, and a $30 registration fee each semester.

Washington County tuition per credit, after 25% off

$99

One 3-credit class, tuition

$297

One 3-credit class with the general fee

$357

Saved on one 3-credit class

$99

Out-of-county tuition per credit, after 25% off

$154.50

Registration fee each semester

$30

Fees, books, and materials are not discounted, and some courses carry their own course fees.

How to enroll

1. Step 1

   Apply online

   Apply for admission to HCC and send transcripts and any college and career readiness documents to the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Management.

2. If GPA is under 3.0

   Take placement tests

   Students with a 2.5 to 2.99 GPA take HCC placement tests; tutorials are on the Testing Center page.

3. Step 2

   Submit the Early College Access Form

   Complete the form, then register for classes with an academic advisor. Early College students cannot register online.

4. Before classes start

   Pay and get set up

   Pay through Self-Service or set up a Nelnet payment plan, then get a parking permit, student ID, and textbooks.

What the discount covers

Covered

• 25% of tuition
• Early College Access classes on campus or online

Not covered

• General college fee
• Registration fee
• Course fees
• Books and materials

Who to contact about Early College Access

Admissions runs the Early College Access Program and answers questions about homeschool eligibility, Monday 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

admissions@hagerstowncc.edu 240-500-2238 Early College Access page

Homeschool rules and statewide help in Maryland

You must submit the prescribed consent form to the local superintendent at least 15 days before starting. District-supervised families verify continuation before each school year and report status changes. A qualifying nonpublic supervisor reports continuing enrollment and status changes to the district.

Maryland sets these rules:

• Subjects: Provide regular, thorough instruction of sufficient duration in English, math, science, social studies, art, music, health, and PE. A qualifying nonpublic-supervised program must provide regular, thorough instruction in the usual public-school studies.
• Testing: State standardized testing is voluntary. District-supervised programs have portfolio reviews at semester ends, with no more than three reviews per school year.
• Records: For district supervision, keep instructional materials and work samples demonstrating required instruction; college report cards or transcripts may substitute for those courses. Qualifying nonpublic supervision follows COMAR’s separate requirements.
• Teachers: No state teaching credential required for the parent providing home instruction.

Read the Maryland homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Maryland

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