Lorain County Community College Celebrates Community College Month

Lorain County Community College is joining community colleges across the state this month to highlight the essential role that two-year colleges play in preparing students for in-demand careers and providing an affordable pathway to higher education.

Community College Month, celebrated in April by proclamation of Gov. Mike DeWine, is an opportunity to raise awareness about the economic, academic, and workforce impact of community colleges. Now more than ever, Ohio’s community colleges are uniquely positioned to meet the needs of both students and employers.

“Lorain County Community College is proud to provide our community with access to affordable, high-quality education and training that transforms lives and bolsters our local economy,” said LCCC President Marcia Ballinger, Ph.D. “As we enter into our latest strategic vision, THRIVE 2035, we are laser focused on increasing student completion, strengthening career pathways, and ensuring our graduates are prepared for in-demand careers upon completion of industry-recognized credential programs, applied associate and bachelor degrees or transfer pathways that lead to long-term success.

THRIVE 2035 builds on LCCC’s powerful legacy of impact in Lorain County. Since its founding, LCCC has awarded 58,000 degrees and certificates to nearly 50,000 graduates, impacting over half of all Lorain County households. With the goal of awarding 35,000 additional credentials of value by 2035, LCCC remains committed to fueling economic mobility and workforce readiness in the region, creating greater prosperity and opportunity for all.

The combination of affordability and workforce alignment sets Ohio’s community colleges apart, said Avi Zaffini, president and CEO of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges.

“Our colleges serve as Ohio’s top workforce partner and deliver the best value in higher education,” Zaffini said. “They respond quickly to employer needs, offer education close to home, and create clear pathways into good-paying jobs or on to a four-year degree.”

LCCC has brought its career-connected pathways to even more students through several K-12 partnerships and dual enrollment programs. One of the most successful dual enrollment programs, College Credit Plus, allows students to earn college credits while in high school, all for free. Students enroll in courses at LCCC and receive credit for both high school requirements and college credit.

In Lorain County, more than 51% of high school students graduate with LCCC credits, saving their families more than $5.6 million in LCCC tuition costs. Beyond cost savings, early exposure to college courses helps place high school students on a path to accelerated academic and career success. It also allows students to explore early on the benefits of attending community college.

Jordan Sas, of North Ridgeville, is one of those students. After taking several College Credit Plus courses at LCCC while attending North Ridgeville High School, Sas learned about LCCC’s University Partnership program, which gives students access to bachelor’s and master’s degree programs from several four-year universities at a fraction of the cost. Sas chose to attend LCCC after graduation and earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in just three years.

“Choosing College Credit Plus and the University Partnership through LCCC was not just an academic decision; it was a financial and personal necessity,” Sas said. “Both made it possible for me to earn the degree I wanted from the school I wanted, at a cost that fit my situation.”

Ohio’s community colleges are widely recognized as the state’s top workforce partner and the best value in higher education, Zaffini stated. Through close collaboration with more than 1,000 employers statewide, community colleges align education and training with real-world job needs across healthcare, advanced manufacturing, information technology, logistics, and the skilled trades.

“LCCC pathways are designed in partnership with local employers, so our students clearly see career pathways connected to their studies. And employers in the region know they’re able to rely on a ready and well-trained workforce to meet their labor needs,” Ballinger said. “This is the community college approach to education and training, and it not only works in terms of student success and job placement among graduates—it’s work that makes a community thrive.”

As Lorain County Community College celebrates Community College Month, it remains steadfast in its mission to expand opportunity, strengthen the workforce, and transform lives through education. By continuing to innovate, partner with industry, and put students first, LCCC is not only meeting the needs of today’s learners—it is helping to build a stronger, more prosperous future for Lorain County and beyond.

To learn more about the academic programs at LCCC, visit www.lorainccc.edu.