LCC graduates have strong skills, employment outlook |

Photo Credit-Kevin Fowler

Lack of education is a primary barrier to the kind of jobs that can sustain families and change the lives of workers. Access to an education training someone for a good job with competitive pay is not always equitable. In Lansing, there are many institutions of higher education, but only one dedicated to the development of regular people and families in the region, using industry-informed standards to prepare graduates for good pay and secure employment:  Lansing Community College.

In spring 2023, LCC awarded more than 1,500 associate degrees and certificates to graduates.

In December, 614 LCC graduates earned degrees and certificates. This spring, the class of 2024 is expected to earn 1,500 or more associate degrees and or certificates as it graduates. These newly trained workers add much-needed skillsets to industries, services, and businesses in the mid-Michigan area.

According to the National Society of High School Scholars, those with an associate degree or professional certificate earn more than $140 more per week than those in the workforce with a high school education alone. Furthermore, there are many fields in which an associate degree can open the door to high-wage jobs, often with the added benefits of in-house development for promotion.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, community college-trained workers can thrive in industries such as medical technologies and clinical care; web development and IT support, including cybersecurity; aerospace technology; public safety, including police officers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and ambulance drivers; heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and trades.

Typically requiring an associate degree or the equivalent in certified training, these fields offer average yearly salaries above $50,000 for credentialed workers. Most of those fields have better than 20% career growth potential each year.

LCC student Jakaya Lay, a student-athlete who attends class and works full time, will be entering the workforce next year with her earned college credentials. For Lay, the preparation LCC provided in terms of responsibility and career readiness has been as valuable as the lessons learned in the classroom.

“At LCC, I have been able to work more than 40 hours a week, keep to a full class schedule, and still find time to work on strength, conditioning, and technique for my track events,” Lay said. “Also, working with my counselor, I am developing a plan to transfer to a four-year school where I can continue my education. Trying to figure all this out, with the paperwork, transcripts, and financial aid stuff, would have been hard on my own. I’ve been lucky my LCC professors, my counselor, and my success coach have my back. I’m excited for my future.”

This year, LCC graduates will be celebrated by Governor Gretchen Whitmer as commencement speaker, a fitting honor for those who will sustain Lansing’s resources with their skillsets after graduation. For more information about how you can start your path to graduation at LCC, visit lcc.edu/enroll. For information about LCC’s 2024 Commencement ceremony, visit lcc.edu/commencement.