Apr 14, 2022

If you live in the Cleveland area and you’re thinking about attending community college, learning more about the educational institutions near you can be helpful. Here at Nissan of Streetsboro, we prioritize education and learning for a better future. Here’s some information about five Cleveland-area community colleges you can apply to if you want to enhance your education and career.

Cuyahoga Community College

college student reading a book
Image by geralt free to use under Pixabay License

Cuyahoga Community College is an educational institution with several locations in and around Cleveland. Some locations include Brunswick, Warrensville Heights, Westlake, and Euclid. Also known as Tri-C, Cuyahoga offers in-person, hybrid, and online classes. In 2021, Cuyahoga had 4,700 graduates, with the average scholarship award at $1,536 per student, and 85% of students staying in the region to begin their careers. The school offers associate degrees, certificate programs, workforce training, personal enrichment classes, and corporate training.

Some programs you can complete at Cuyahoga include accounting, American sign language, automotive technology, business management, court reporting, criminal justice, hospitality management, nursing, paralegal, and teacher education options. Cuyahoga also offers study abroad experiences in places like the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Quebec. If you’re interested in sports, you can catch baseball, basketball, soccer, cross-country running, and volleyball events on the Cuyahoga campus. The cost per credit hour at Cuyahoga is the lowest for community colleges in Ohio, at $119.54 for in-county residents, $149.08 for out-of-county residents, and $286.19 for out-of-state residents.

Lakeland Community College

Lakeland Community College is located just outside of Cleveland in Kirtland, Ohio. The campus is about 22.2 miles from the center of Cleveland, which is about a 26-minute drive or two-hour trip on public transit. Founded in 1967 by a vote by Cleveland citizens, College Consensus recognized Lakeland as one of the nation’s best community colleges in 2020. In the 2019-2020 academic year, the college served 8,735 students. The cost per credit at Lakeland is $137.80 for in-county residents, $166.10 for out-of-county residents, and $244.10 for out-of-state residents.

Some academic programs at Lakeland include accounting, American sign language, behavioral sciences, biology, biotechnology science, business management, chemistry, civil engineering technology, communication studies, computer integrated manufacturing, criminal justice, culinary arts, dental programs, English, history, media technology, nursing, and political science. You can complete credit or non-credit coursework depending on your goals. Lakeland also has sports like baseball, basketball, soccer, softball, and volleyball.

Lorain County Community College

Lorain County Community College was founded in 1963 and is located in Elyria, Ohio. The campus is about 26.9 miles from the center of Cleveland, which is about a 32-minute drive. Commuting to Lorain County Community College via public transit may not be advisable, as there may not be the proper connections to get you there. Lorain offers associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, short-term certificates, and workforce training. They offer a unique Ohio university partnership program through which you can earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree from another accredited university.

With the second-lowest tuition in the state, Lorain Community College can be a good choice for you if you’re economically minded. Some programs you can pursue at Lorain County Community College include business and entrepreneurship, liberal and creative arts, science, and mathematics. The price per credit hour is $149.04 for in-county residents, $174.22 for out-of-county residents, and $325.79 for out-of-state residents. Student resources include campus dining, a bookstore, and several computer labs for student use. Lorain has several social clubs students can join, including Anime Society, Care Club, E.P.I.C., Gamers Paradise, P.R.I.D.E., and Learning Differences.

Ohio Technical College

Ohio Technical College is an accredited college founded in 1969 that focuses on teaching students how to repair and maintain motor vehicles. If you’re a car enthusiast and want to incorporate your love of automotive technology into your education and career, Ohio Technical College may be right for you. Ohio Technical College’s campus is about 2.7 miles from the center of Cleveland, which is roughly a nine-minute drive, and may take around 20 minutes to reach using public transit. The school offers training centers with full-size units to help you develop your mechanical skills.

The student support department at Ohio Technical College provides services to students to help them succeed. This includes counseling on academics, financial aid, and housing matters. This school also offers a military veteran program that helps military veterans and members gain education and launch new careers. At Ohio Technical College, you can earn an associate degree in applied science. The cost for each program at Ohio Technical College can vary depending on what you study. These are the costs per program:

  • Master Welding Technology: $20,900
  • Complete Automotive Technology: $27,900
  • Auto Diesel Technology: $28,500
  • Diesel Equipment Technology: $28,920
  • High Performance and Racing Technology: $28,920
  • Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology: $29,700
  • Classic Car Restoration: $29,700

Stark State College

Stark State College offers more than 230 associate degree and certificate programs. Stark State is located in North Canton, which is about 57 miles south of Cleveland. From the center of Cleveland, Stark State is about an hour-long drive, and it may be difficult to reach using public transit. With an average student age of 27, you can feel comfortable attending this institution at any age. Earning a degree here can also boost your career, as 95% of graduates use their education to find employment following graduation.

The cost per credit hour for in-state students is $184.60, but Stark sets itself apart from other community colleges by offering 2022 high school graduates completely free enrollment for any major and unlimited credit hours. Stark State College also has university partnerships with more than 30 universities, so you can create a flexible education plan. Stark also enhances flexibility by offering part-time classes, eight-week courses, and a completely online curriculum for those who want to learn from home.

Now that you know all about the community colleges near Cleveland, you can further your future through education. If you choose a school outside the city, you can stop by Nissan of Streetsboro for all your transportation needs. Is there a great school we forgot to add to this list? If so, you can contact us and let us know so we can add it to the guide.