Lakeland Community College and Tiffin University (TU) are proud to announce a comprehensive partnership designed to make bachelor’s degrees more accessible and affordable for Lakeland students.

Through Tiffin University’s DragonNext program, Lakeland students earning their associate degrees have a clear pathway to complete a bachelor’s degree at TU, benefiting from discounted tuition and guaranteed transfer benefits.

To save Lakeland students significant money and time, this partnership ensures that students are eligible for two key financial incentives: those attending classes at Tiffin University’s main campus are eligible for an automatic $16,000 merit scholarship—which increases to $18,000 beginning in August 2026—while students choosing to learn online are eligible for a $150 reduction per credit hour.

"This is a powerful advantage for our students, and it directly aligns with our mission to provide affordable pathways to higher education," said Sunil Ahuja, Ph.D., president of Lakeland Community College. "This partnership ensures that the hard work and credits earned at Lakeland are seamlessly applied toward a bachelor's degree at Tiffin University, offering both academic and financial confidence from day one."

In addition to the financial benefits, the program features dedicated support services, such as academic counseling, at both institutions. DragonNext students may also qualify for grants, loans, and work-study programs specifically designed for the partnership.

Tiffin’s DragonNext advantage is open to associate degree-seeking students enrolled at Lakeland who are looking to finish their bachelor’s degree at Tiffin University.Students must maintain a cumulative 2.0 college GPA to be admissible to TU.

Lakeland students interested in finding out more about the partnership, can contact Lakeland’s Transfer Center at 440.525.7535 or visit lakelandcc.edu/transfer.

By: Levi Rex, Asst Director Market & Communi