Lorain County Community College’s Class of 2026 is helping strengthen the region’s workforce and expand opportunity across Northeast Ohio. This year, 2,053 graduates earned a record-breaking 3,431 degrees and credentials — the largest number ever awarded to a graduating class in LCCC history.
Among those graduates is Elijah Smith, who began his college journey at LCCC when he was just 13 years old.
Smith was in eighth grade when he took his first Lorain County Community College class, successfully completing Student Development (SDEV) 101: Introduction to the LCCC Community. That first course launched four years of college coursework through College Credit Plus (CCP), during which he earned more than 60 LCCC credits while attending Brookside High School.
This May, Smith graduates with both his high school diploma and an associate of science degree from LCCC — one of 150 students in the Class of 2026 who earned an associate degree while still in high school through dual enrollment programs including CCP, Early College High School and Career Technical Education. Together, those students saved their families more than $1.8 million in tuition costs.
“I took CCP classes because I wanted to get a little bit ahead,” Smith says. “I wanted to try and gain as much credit for free as I could, before I went off to college.”
College Credit Plus is a state-funded program that allows students to earn college credits at no cost while in high school.
“I saved my family a ton of money, which my parents were very happy about,” Smith says. “That was probably the main reason I did it. We thought, ‘It’s free, let’s give it a shot.’”
Balancing a full high school schedule with an average of nine college credit hours each semester taught Smith discipline and time management.
“I had to set aside time during the day to do certain homework, and I had to make sure I didn’t procrastinate on anything,” he says. “My parents were a big help, too. They helped me stay on track.”
Smith plans to continue his education at LCCC in the associate degree nursing program after researching the college’s strong reputation in healthcare education.
“LCCC has the second-best nursing program in the state, with the second highest passing rate of the NCLEX,” Smith says. “So, I decided to come here, plus they awarded me the Trustee Scholarship. It was the best of both worlds.”
The Class of 2026 also included 11 graduates who earned Bachelor of Applied Science degrees in Microelectronic Manufacturing or Smart Industrial Automated Systems Engineering Technology — programs designed to meet growing workforce demand in advanced manufacturing and semiconductor industries. Another 144 graduates earned bachelor’s or master’s degrees through LCCC’s University Partnership.
Reflecting LCCC’s mission to expand opportunity, 39 percent of the Class of 2026 are first-generation college graduates — the first in their families to earn a college degree.
“I feel like I’m really ahead,” Smith says. “LCCC and the CCP program have provided an amazing community that has helped uplift me and prepare me for what’s next.”
Fall 2026 New Program Alert – RN to BSN Program
Lorain County Community College is launching a Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program to strengthen the region’s healthcare workforce and address a critical industry need. This new offering marks the College’s third bachelor’s degree and expands access to high-quality, affordable education for local residents.
