The U.S. Department of Education's College Affordability and Transparency Center recently named LCCC as the lowest cost college at which to earn an associate or bachelor's degree, and within the top ten percent of affordable colleges in the country.
A recent report states that Lorain County Community College is the most affordable place in Ohio to earn an associate or bachelor's degree, according to the College Affordability and Transparency Center at the U.S. Department of Education. A news release from LCCC explains that keeping costs low is a priority of the administration, along with a collection of programs that changes with the changing needs of students and employers. LCCC is part of the community college system, although it offers a bachelor of applied science in microelectronic manufacturing, so was included in the national rankings for four-year institutions. The cost to attend LCCC puts it within the top ten percent of affordable colleges nationwide.
In a news release, Lorain County Community College President, Dr. Marcia Ballinger, spoke about the school's commitment to keeping costs low for the student body, 82% of whom make use of financial aid and scholarship programs to earn their degrees. "We are proud of the fact that we are able to offer the highest quality educational programs to our community at a tuition cost that puts education within the reach of all individuals," Ballinger said.
The bachelor's degree program is new to LCCC, with its first graduates completing their degrees in May 2021. The ability to adjust to the changing needs of their students adds to the value Lorain County Community College brings, according to President Ballinger. "A hallmark of LCCC is our forward thinking and our ability to adapt our programs to meet industry workforce needs. The applied bachelor's degree is a perfect example of that, as this program, and its associate degree counterpart, has a 100% job placement track record. This is just one example, along with our University Partnership, that demonstrates how we have taken the affordable community college model to the next level to offer bachelor and master's degrees that do not require students to take on debt just to meet their educational goals," she explained.
The news release also points out that LCCC has established partnerships with other schools in Ohio, creating easy paths for students to transfer to over 100 bachelor- and master-level degree programs. Administrators state that these agreements save students $74,000 on average when they start their four-year degrees at LCCC. Transfer agreements have been established with 14 different universities.