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About CLC

Welcoming everyone

The College of Lake County has been devoted to the success of our students since we first opened for classes on September 25, 1969. Over the years, more than 400,000 students have passed through our doors, walking a life-changing path from dreams to bright futures.

CLC supplies prerequisites for success with wide-ranging academic options, tuition value, convenient locations and small classes taught by caring faculty. When you want to go from where you are to where you want to be, find inspiration and motivation through the campuses and community of CLC.

In 2023, CLC was named a Leader College by the nationally recognized Achieving the Dream organization. This means every person affiliated with our institution is committed to ensuring access, belonging, and success for all of our students.

Who we are

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The College of Lake County is a comprehensive community college committed to equitable high-quality education, cultural enrichment and partnerships to advance the diverse communities it serves.
The College of Lake County is a leader in providing innovative education and workforce solutions.
Excellence
We believe every employee is responsible for contributing to the CLC aspiration of being a higher education organization by which others measure themselves.
Integrity
We believe in upholding integrity in our words and actions to support our students, our team and the college.
Unity
We believe in the power of leveraging individual strengths to achieve a common purpose and a collaborative team environment focused on achieving shared goals and upholding shared accountability.
Purpose
We believe in the transformative power of education and our open access mission by offering workforce solutions to address social, environmental and economic issues.
Compassion
We believe every employee is responsible for the well-being of students and one another.
Inclusion
We believe diversity of backgrounds and perspectives is a means to create innovative solutions and achieve College goals by ensuring equity in practice.
View CLC 2024 Strategic Plan (PDF)

Who we serve

We create pathways to low-cost educational and personally fulfilling resources for our diverse student population, Lake County residents and businesses.

Students

High school students
Parents and families
Padres y Familias
Adult learners
International students
Military/Veterans
Undocumented students
Online learners

Businesses

We partner with local Lake County businesses and nonprofit organizations to improve productivity, connect you with top talent and more.

Learn how we support businesses and nonprofit organizations in Lake County

Community

Travel with us. Bike with us. Dine in buildings outfitted with bird-friendly windows with us. Be part of our community at any of our three campuses in Lake County.

Learn about CLC's resources for the community

Making an impact

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- More than 22,000 students enrolled in college, adult education, English as a Second Language (ESL), dual credit and workforce training classes.
- Students are 27% full time, 73% part time.
- Average student age is 26.
Source: CLC Community Impact Report 2024
- More than 3,100 graduates earned 3,700+ awarded credentials last year, a record high.
- In the past 55 years, CLC has graduated nearly 65,000 students with 93,000 degrees and certificates.
Source: CLC Community Impact Report 2024
- CLC reflects the diversity in our community and serves students from across the county (42% Latinx, 37% White, 7% Black, 7% Asian, 7% Other).
- A designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education.
- 1 of 5 top institutions awarding associate degrees to Latinx students in Illinois, according to Excelencia in Education.
Source: CLC Community Impact Report 2024
- On average, students saved $30,000 in tuition and fees by enrolling at CLC for two years before transferring to an Illinois public university to complete their bachelor’s degree.
- Top 5 programs students transfer to at 4-year schools: engineering, nursing, business, psychology and biology.
Source: CLC Community Impact Report 2024
- 78% of graduates of the Class of 2023 were employed within one year of graduating
- 69 apprenticeships offered with 19 employers
Source: CLC Community Impact Report 2024

Work at CLC

Work in a role where you are personally fulfilled and financially secure. At the College of Lake County, we provide opportunities for you to feel part of a close-knit work community while you are appreciated for the value you bring to our work.

See available job openings and consider beginning a career with us today.

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About CLC

Who we are

Mission

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Excellence

Integrity

Unity

Purpose

Compassion

Inclusion

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Students thrive here

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