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Lorain County Community College

#8 Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio
Public Elyria, OH · Suburban · Great Lakes · 80% data
A Value A Affordability C- Earnings
Graduation Rate
32% F
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$38,837 C-
Below average for college graduates
Net Price
$3,967 A
77% less than the typical college
Enrollment
5,373
Earnings -5% vs avg
Graduation -44% vs avg
Net Price +-77% vs avg

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 58.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $58.0 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio.

58.0× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $58.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $904,506.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduation of 32% — 44% below the national average.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $58.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Lorain County Community College Matters

Lorain County Community College is a public college in Elyria, OH and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public College
Carnegie Class
Associate's College
Enrollment
5,373
Setting
Suburban
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT

Why students choose Lorain County Community College

Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 39% overall
C-
Earnings
$38,837 median
A
Value
9.8× net price
A
Affordability
$3,967/yr net
F
Graduation
32% graduate
C-
Diversity
0.54 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Lorain County Community College serves about 5,373 students, making it a solid choice for those looking for a close-knit community college experience. Students here dive into a variety of programs, including Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, and Precision Production. This range allows individuals to explore different paths and find what resonates with them, whether they're looking to enter the workforce quickly or transfer to a four-year school later on.

When it comes to life after graduation, the average earnings for graduates ten years out stand at about $38,837. This figure is essential to consider, especially when mapping out potential career paths. The affordability of the school is another key factor, with a net price of just $3,967 after aid, making it accessible for many. While the graduation rate is 32%, it’s important to note that those who do complete their programs can expect a reasonable return on their investment.

Looking at the practical aspects, the median debt for students is around $13,680, which is relatively manageable compared to what many graduates face from larger universities. The financial landscape here supports students who may need to balance work and study, allowing them to thrive in a supportive environment. If you're someone who values a hands-on approach to education and seeks to build a career without incurring overwhelming debt, this school could be a great fit.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Lorain County Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Lorain County Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Lorain County Community College, located in Elyria, Ohio, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.

Full-Time Faculty
100%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$7,880
Student–Faculty Ratio
14:1
Diversity Index
0.54
First-Gen Students
51%

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lorain County Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Lorain County Community College is $8,860, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $3,967. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,099 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,680 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$4,265
Out-of-State
$8,860
Avg Net Price
$3,967
Median Debt
$13,680
Pell Grant Rate
26%
Federal Loan Rate
7%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$3,099
Family Income $30K–$48K
$3,261
Family Income $48K–$75K
$4,874
Family Income $110K+
$9,202

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Lorain County Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Lorain County Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Lorain County Community College report median earnings of $38,837, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

6 Years After Entry
$33,660
8 Years
$35,096
10 Years
$38,837
Debt-to-Earnings
0.35x
Earning > $25K
49%

Earnings Trajectory

$33,660 6yr $35,096 8yr $38,837 10yr

How Lorain Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation32%Earnings 10yr$39KNet Price$4KMedian Debt$14KPell Grant Rate26%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$3K$0-30K$3K$30-48K$5K$48-75K$9K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Lorain County Community College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Lorain County Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $3,967/year ($15,868 total). Graduates earn $38,837 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $920,374 in total earnings — a net gain of $904,506 (58.0× your investment). The median debt is $13,680, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 32% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$15,868
Projected 20yr Earnings
$920,374
Net Return
$904,506
ROI Multiple
58.0×
Cost Per Year
$3,967
Median Debt
$13,680
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
32%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Lorain County Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Lorain County Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.07, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.07
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.05
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
6.4%
Support Ratio
0.99
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$9,539,853

Top Programs

The fields Lorain County Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Lorain County Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Lorain County Community College, located in Elyria, Ohio, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 32%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Lorain County Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Lorain County Community College is $8,860, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $3,967. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $3,099 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $13,680 in federal student loans.

Is Lorain County Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Lorain County Community College report median earnings of $38,837, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.

How Connected Is Lorain County Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Lorain County Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.07, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Lorain County Community College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys