Lorain County Community College is committed to providing a pathway for all individuals who desire, benefit from, and wish to pursue a college education. LCCC’s open-admission policy provides broad access to college, within the guidelines below and with appropriate scores on LCCC’s placement assessment.

High School Completion

Federal financial aid applicants must demonstrate they are qualified to study at the post-secondary level. Students may self-certify high school (or equivalent) completion on the FAFSA. The following are acceptable for U.S. high school graduates to meet the requirement:

  • High school diploma;
  • Official high school transcript that shows the date when the student graduated;
  • A copy of a General Educational Development (GED) certificate or GED transcript that indicates the student passed the exam;
  • Certification of a passing score on a state authorized high school diploma equivalency test. Effective June 14, 2016, Ohio authorizes the following high school equivalency tests:
  • High School Equivalency Test (HiSET) or
  • Test Assessing Secondary Completion (TASC)

Test transcripts are acceptable documentation if they indicate that the final score is a passing score or that the student’s state considers the test results to meet its high school equivalency requirements;

  • For homeschooled students, a copy of a secondary school completion credential for homeschool (other than a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent) if state law requires homeschooled students to get that credential. If it is not required, a transcript or the equivalent signed by the parent or guardian that lists the secondary school courses the student completed and documents the successful completion of a secondary school education in a homeschool setting;
  • An academic transcript indicating the student successfully completed at least a two-year program that is acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s degree;
  • And are beyond the age of compulsory school attendance in the State of Ohio. 

Special Admissions Programs

In some cases, and to meet the needs of individuals we serve, special admission programs are also available to current high school students, international students, transfer students, transient students, incarcerated students, and many others. These special admission programs may require students to complete different steps or provide additional documentation associated with their unique situation.

The Enrollment, Financial, and Career Services division serves as a one-stop for credit students, whether they are potential, new, or returning students. This one-stop approach provides an array of enrollment, financial, and career services that include admission, advising, counseling, and registration. Student service representatives and advising teams are prepared to provide not only general information, but also College Credit Plus, College Tech Prep, University Partnership, veterans, English as a Second Language, and international student information. 

High School Graduates

Graduates from high schools recognized by the Ohio Department of Education (includes chartered, non-chartered, home school, private or public), or the Department of Education from the student’s state of legal residence if not Ohio, are admitted based on their high school diplomas.

Students that have completed their final year of instruction at home or from an unaccredited homeschool association are admitted upon providing, along with their diploma, the official letter of excuse issued by the district superintendent for the student’s final year of home education.

The high school transcript may be waived for admission purposes if student have earned associate, bachelor or higher degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university upon providing official transcript with conferral date.

All admitted students are REQUIRED to participate in the assessment placement process unless qualifying as an exception (see information on placement assessment). High school graduates (under the age of 18 at time of enrollment) must provide a high school transcript that indicates their date of graduation or a General Education Development (GED) certificate. This must be provided along with the LCCC application for admission in order for enrollment to be processed.

Determining Validity of High School Completion

Upon receipt of the high school completion documentation, the Records Office confirms the diploma is valid. If there is reason to believe the diploma is inauthentic or granted by an ineligible post-secondary institution, further review may be necessary. Typically, validity is determined by confirming the high school’s accreditation status with the agency that has jurisdiction over the high school. If unable to validate through the accrediting agency and/or if additional information is needed, the Records Office performs due diligence with actions such as, contacting the high school for additional information, consulting with other post-secondary school leadership located in proximity to the high school in question.

Foreign High School Diploma Evaluation

The Records Office determines if non-U.S. high school diplomas must meet the U.S. high school completion equivalency requirements. At least one of the following reference guides are used in this determination:

  • Foreign Educational Credentials Required. 5th ed. Washington, DC;
  • American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, 2003;
  • U.S. Dept of State

Non-U.S. high school graduates must submit the following documentation for initial review. Additional information may be requested depending on the country in which the diploma was earned.

  • Foreign high school equivalency form; or
  • Copy of the “secondary school leaving certificate” or similar document from the government agency in which the diploma was earned.

Alternatively, students may hire a third party high school evaluation service to determine U.S. high school equivalency and submit the evaluation results in lieu of the documentation listed above.

Non-High School Graduates

Applicants 18 years old or older who are not high school graduates must earn a General Education Development (GED) certificate or high school diploma through an accredited adult diploma program, and request that their official GED scores or diploma be sent to the Records office before enrolling for the 13th hour of credit classes.

Students in this category interested in available scholarships should contact Student Financial Aid for criteria requirements. Applicants under 18 years of age who do not have a high school diploma or GED will not be admitted to the College except under the College Credit Plus programs. All admitted students are REQUIRED to participate in the placement assessment process unless qualifying as an exception.

Incentive Compensation

LCCC will not provide a commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based in any part, directly or indirectly on success in securing enrollments or financial aid to any person or entity engaged in any student recruiting or admission activities or in making decisions regarding awarding Title IV funds.