In today’s rapidly shifting economy, the average worker is expected to change careers five to seven times over their lifetime. That reality demands a new approach to higher education—one that isn’t centered around a single degree or credential, but around a lifelong learning partnership.
At Cuyahoga Community College, widely known as Tri-C, we’ve fully embraced this reality by creating a multi-pathway strategy that supports learners at every stage of life, preparing them not just for today’s workforce but for tomorrow’s possibilities.
For decades, higher education operated under a relatively linear model: earn a degree or credential, step into the workforce and build a lifelong career. This model no longer reflects reality.
Industries evolve quickly, automation transforms jobs overnight, and entire fields emerge in just a few years. For learners and employers alike, education must be flexible, affordable and continuous.
At Tri-C, we see this challenge not as a disruption to higher education but as an invitation to reimagine our role. Community colleges aren’t just a stop on a student’s journey—we are partners throughout their life’s journey.
Meeting learners where they are
Tri-C serves more than 37,000 students annually—across credit, noncredit and workforce training programs—and those learners range in age from 11 to 88. Some are high school students getting a jump-start on college through College Credit Plus courses.
Others are adults seeking to complete their first credential, pivot to a new career or return to school after decades in the workforce. We even welcome learners to exercise their minds and engage with ideas in our Encore 55+ Learning program.
By design, our multi-pathway approach ensures we can meet learners wherever they are to:
- Open doors to adult education, job readiness and foundational learning for economic independence through community-based programming.
- Deliver short-term, work-ready certifications in high-demand fields such as healthcare, IT and skilled trades via workforce training academies.
- Offer associate degrees, applied bachelor’s degrees and industry-recognized, stackable credentials that power our regional workforce through our academic schools.
- Equip small business owners, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders and their teams with lifelong learning and skills development that drives growth by providing customized continuing education.
Each of these pathways are designed to connect in a circular relationship in which learners, employers and Tri-C move together. Learners come to us for one credential and often return later for another. Employers engage us to develop talent pipelines as we adapt programs alongside them to meet tomorrow’s challenges.
Expanding opportunity and economic mobility
The promise of higher education has been tied to economic mobility. But for many learners, access to that promise has been limited by cost, time or circumstance. Our goal is to remove those barriers.
By offering multiple affordable pathways, Tri-C helps individuals gain the skills they need without incurring significant debt. In fact, our tuition is a fraction of the cost of most four-year institutions, making education attainable for more learners across Northeast Ohio.
The result is not just personal transformation—it’s regional impact. More than 85% of Tri-C graduates remain in Northeast Ohio to live and work, contributing directly to the vitality of our local economy.
Altogether, Tri-C generates an estimated $1.5 billion in economic impact each year for Cuyahoga County. That’s why we view ourselves as more than an academic institution: we are an economic mobility partner for individuals, families and employers alike.
Redefining the role of the community college
Tri-C’s experience reflects a broader shift happening across the country. Employers increasingly value skills over static credentials. Learners want options that are flexible, stackable and affordable. Communities expect colleges to be responsive to workforce needs while also supporting personal growth and skills development.
Community colleges are uniquely positioned to deliver on all three expectations. Our industry connections, coupled with our missions to serve learners of all backgrounds, make us natural leaders in designing solutions that work for real people in real time.
For example, we’ve partnered with healthcare providers, manufacturing firms and IT companies to create apprenticeships and tailored training programs that lead directly to employment. At the same time, we’re investing in transfer agreements and innovative academic programming—including our first-ever Bachelor of Applied Science in Integrated Digital Manufacturing Engineering Technology—to meet the evolving demands of the workforce.
Being a multi-pathway institution is more than building bridges: it is ensuring those bridges connect to meaningful opportunities.
It’s no secret that higher education leaders are at an inflection point. The pace of change demands that we rethink outdated models and embrace the reality that learning is lifelong, nonlinear and deeply personal.
We believe the future belongs to institutions that act not only as educators but as partners—partners in personal growth, workforce innovation and economic mobility. That’s what drives our multi-pathway strategy, and it’s why we’re committed to serving learners of every background at every career stage.
Key takeaway
The future of higher education depends on embracing the reality that learning doesn’t stop at graduation. Tri-C designed a multi-pathway strategy that meets learners where they are—whether they’re starting college, changing careers, or seeking to upskill—and positions them for lifelong success.
By committing to serve learners at every stage, community colleges can become true partners in both personal growth and regional economic mobility.
