NORTH CANTON, Ohio, March 19, 2025 – Stark State College is growing in the Mahoning Valley, with in-person and online education options to prepare students for in-demand jobs in the region.

Stark State, with locations in Stark and Summit counties, will begin offering in-person classes in the Mahoning Valley this fall. The College is also offering more than 25 online degrees and certificates and expanding partnerships with area K-12 school districts through its College Credit Plus (CCP) program.

“We are providing Mahoning Valley students, employers and communities a high-quality community college experience, with excellent programs and the most affordable cost, including tuition and fees, in the region,” said Para M. Jones, Ph.D., president of Stark State. “We’re working with local employers to prepare talented graduates for in-demand careers in allied health, business, IT and industrial fields.”

Stark State has university transfer partnerships with Youngstown State University, The University of Akron, Kent State University, The Ohio State University and many more, reducing the cost of a bachelor’s degree by 60% to 90%, based on public and private university tuition, respectively. One of Stark State’s most innovative partnerships provides Associate of Science students the opportunity to directly apply for admission to Northeast Ohio Medical University’s (NEOMED) pharmacy doctoral program. Jones said its longtime NEOMED partnership is a testament to Stark State’s excellent science education.

A record of service, a future of growth

Over the years, nearly 3,000 residents from Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties have enrolled at Stark State. The College has been located at Campbell City Schools for more than six years, teaching College Credit Plus (CCP) classes.

Through Ohio’s 22+/Adult Diploma program, in a partnership between Stark State and Graduation Alliance (GA), adults in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties have earned or are currently on track to earn their high school diplomas.

Once these adults earn their high school diplomas, Stark State provides pathways and scholarships to help them continue on for college certificates and degrees.

Mahoning Valley employers work with Stark State to prepare their current and future workforce. In addition to its many online degree programs and courses, Stark State is now offering in-person medical assisting classes at Campbell City Schools. This fall, Stark State plans to offer in-person classes in business management and A.A. (Associate of Arts) and A.S. (Associate of Science) degrees. Efforts also are underway to bring nursing programs to the region in fall 2026, and students can begin taking pre-nursing classes fall 2025.

Strengthening partnerships and enhancing access in the region

“Our goal is to deliver the highest-quality education at the lowest cost for students, employers and communities in the Mahoning Valley,” said Jones. “We do this through excellent associate degree and certificate programs, strong workforce partnerships, low tuition and low or no fees, small class sizes, academic support services and caring faculty.”

The College invites the community to attend its upcoming spring open house and information night Wednesday, April 16, from 5-7 p.m. at the Community Literacy Workforce and Cultural Center (CLWCC) at Campbell City Schools, 436 Struthers Coitsville Rd. in Lowellville. Guests will learn about in-demand programs, talk with admissions and financial aid, tour the new state-of-the-art medical assisting lab and more.

For more information or to RSVP for the open house, visit www.starkstate.edu/mv.