SPONSORED CONTENT Courtesy of:
Lake Michigan College (LMC) has achieved national recognition as the 13th best community college in America, according to SmartAsset’s 2025 Best Community Colleges study. This prestigious recognition marks LMC’s second consecutive year as Michigan’s premier community college and underscores the institution’s unwavering commitment to student success and educational excellence.
“While we take pride in this ranking, we view it as a catalyst for community impact,” stated LMC President Dr. Trevor Kubatzke. “It signals to the world that Southwest Michigan stands ready to compete for new investment, businesses, and residents.”
LMC has demonstrated remarkable agility in addressing regional challenges. When local law enforcement agencies recently faced a crisis of increasing retirements without local training options, LMC swiftly revived its Police Academy. Within ten months, the college secured all state approvals, assembled a qualified team, and graduated 27 officers now serving area agencies.
“LMC didn’t just respond, they delivered training quality that rivals any academy in the state,” praised Berrien County Sheriff Chuck Heit.
LMC’s funding structure is composed from 51% property taxes, 27% tuition, 15% state appropriations, and 7% from private sources and grants. With two property tax millages expiring at the end of 2026, the November 4th ballot presents voters with a fiscally responsible proposal.
The college seeks renewal of its operational millage at 0.665 mills, which is unchanged since 2006 and represents 20% of the annual budget. For the capital millage, LMC proposes a significant 50% reduction from 0.48 to 0.24 mills, demonstrating commitment to fiscal restraint during uncertain economic times.
“We’ve always been exemplary stewards of public funds,” Kubatzke emphasized. “We understand the need to accomplish more with less.”
Innovative partnerships are another way that LMC is saving money and meeting the needs of students, businesses, and the workforce. With no centralized career technical training center like Kalamazoo and Van Buren Counties have, LMC and Berrien RESA entered a unique collaboration in 2024. “Three attempts to build a career center had failed over the decades, so aligning college resources to fill that need, while maintaining classes at the Niles campus, would save taxpayers millions in building costs,” said Kubatzke. The College pays no rent on the facility, as Berrien RESA builds out career-tech programs. The move was also part of the Berrien Talent Collaborative, Michigan’s first youth apprenticeship program that is operated by LMC, Berrien RESA, The Southwest Michigan Regional Chamber of Commerce and Greater Niles Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a partnership working directly with area companies to build a talented workforce and grow our population, and it fits our reputation as a leader in apprenticeship training over the decades,” Kubatzke said.
Another way area families save money on higher education is through innovative programs like Early/Middle College and Dual Enrollment that allow high school students to earn college credit and save thousands of dollars on their college education. The LMC Guarantee also helps students who live in the LMC District attend tuition-free if they are full-time students right out of high school. The College has seen enrollment double in the last three years for first-time students directly from high school.
LMC’s academic distinction extends beyond rankings. The college maintains a 13:1 student-faculty ratio, with half of its instructors holding doctoral degrees. Additional notable program achievements include:
- Nursing program ranked top 5 in Michigan
- Online Accounting program ranked top 20 nationally
- Comprehensive short-term training in trucking, marine technology, aviation, data science, and agribusiness
For 79 years, LMC has been training our local nurses, health care technicians, tool and die makers, welders, and truck drivers, while also providing area families with quality, affordable training and education. What started as Benton Harbor Junior College in 1946 serving 61 students returning from World War II is now a multi-campus college with award winning programs, putting Southwest Michigan on the map as the place to be. Lake Michigan College, where we connect you to your future. Learn more at www.lakemichigancollege.edu.
