The Villager Newspaper Online Your Community News – Cleveland's Westshore
Lorain County Community College announced today that it has been designated a 2026 Leader College of Distinction by Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national organization committed to advancing community colleges as accessible hubs of learning, credentialing and economic mobility.
“This recognition affirms what our students, faculty and staff work toward every day, meaningful outcomes that change lives,” said LCCC President Marcia J. Ballinger, Ph.D. “At LCCC, student success is our culture. Through intentional design, data-informed decision-making and a deep commitment to meeting students where they are, we are ensuring more students complete credentials of value and launch high-opportunity careers right here in our region.”
ATD created the Leader College of Distinction designation in 2018 to recognize institutions that have demonstrated sustained excellence in advancing student success outcomes over time. Leader Colleges of Distinction must demonstrate sustained and expanding success in early momentum metrics, such as course success rates and student retention, as well as in milestone momentum outcomes, such as rates of completion; a strong culture of data-informed continuous improvement; and evidence that effective practices are institutionalized. These colleges advance student success strategies that respond to their local context with emphasis on students who are missing or left behind.
LCCC has been a member of the ATD Network since 2011 and has held Leader College status since 2015. LCCC has been designated a Leader College of Distinction since 2019. In 2020, LCCC was named the Leah Meyer Austin winner, ATD’s top prize reserved for network colleges that show greatest, sustained improvements in student outcomes and student success.
With student success at the center of its mission, LCCC has embedded comprehensive support strategies across every aspect of the student experience. Through a culture of care and its Career by Design framework, the College provides holistic, fully integrated support services, customized academic advising and intentional career planning beginning on every student’s day one.
These sustained efforts have informed LCCC’s THRIVE 2035 strategic plan, which includes an ambitious goal to award 35,000 additional degrees and credentials of value in the coming decade, strengthening economic mobility for individuals and families across the region.
“The 2026 Leader Colleges of Distinction demonstrate sustained commitment and measurable progress in advancing student success,” said Dr. Karen A. Stout, president and CEO of Achieving the Dream. “By using data to guide decisions and continuously strengthen their practices, these institutions are producing real gains in student outcomes, strengthening their practices, and deepening their impact in the communities they serve. Their leadership sets a powerful example for colleges across the ATD Network, reflecting the focus, discipline, and follow-through required to achieve lasting institutional change.”
About Achieving the Dream
Achieving the Dream (ATD) is a partner and champion of more than 300 community colleges across the country. Drawing on our expert coaches, groundbreaking programs, and national peer network, we provide institutions with integrated, tailored support for every aspect of their work — from foundational capacities such as leadership, data, and equity to intentional strategies for supporting students holistically, building K–12 partnerships, and more. We call this Whole College Transformation. Our vision is for every college to be a catalyst for equitable and economically vibrant communities. We know that with the right partner and the right approach, colleges can drive access, completion rates, and employment outcomes — so that all students can access life-changing learning that propels them into community-changing careers. Follow us on X (Twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn.
About Lorain County Community College
Established in 1963, Lorain County Community College is the first community college in Ohio with a permanent campus. For more than six decades, LCCC has served the needs of the greater Lorain County region by providing affordable access to higher education and now serves approximately 13,000 students each year in certificate, associate, bachelor’s and master’s degree programs.
Since the College’s founding, LCCC has served 50% of Lorain County families and awarded more than 46,000 have earned a degree. LCCC was recently ranked in the top 10% of most affordable colleges in the nation, and more than 90% of LCCC graduates live and work in Northeast Ohio. Additionally, 52% of Lorain County’s high school graduates earn college credits through LCCC’s high school dual enrollment programs. LCCC also partners with more than 700 employers and offers 170 industry-recognized credentials to better prepare the future workforce.
LCCC is a dynamic, student-centered college intentionally designed to support individuals with balancing multiple roles on their path to college completion. Nearly 85% of LCCC students work while attending college, with the majority working at least half-time. The average age of LCCC’s students is 24, and many bring life experiences that include caring for dependents, serving in the military, or completing some prior college. More than 80% of LCCC students receive financial assistance through grants and scholarships, and LCCC has been nationally recognized for holistic, fully integrated services and commitment to student success.
