What led to this audit?
The Auditor of State’s office is required to conduct a select number of performance audits of institutions of higher education and state agencies every two years. Cuyahoga Community College serves the greater Cleveland community, offering more than 200 programs leading to certificates and associates degrees along with several noncredit workforce training and professional development programs. Due to declining enrollment trends over the past decade, the Ohio Performance Team selected the College for a performance audit.
What did we find?
We found that Cuyahoga Community College has a significant amount of local financial support in the form of property levies approved by voters in Cuyahoga County. Nearly half of the College’s revenue came from local sources in Academic Year 2024. The College also spends significantly more than its two-year peers, with spending patterns more in line with four-year institutions of higher education. While the College is not in a state of fiscal distress, we found several areas to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness to better serve the residents of Cuyahoga County and to improve the overall stewardship of the public funds provided to the College.