EDUCATION & TALENT
We’re a maker community. We invent, we build and we turn ideas into reality. Our students do
amazing things, and with local post-graduate colleges, universities and career centers, they’re
finding jobs right here! When it comes to quality of life, education and cutting-edge health care, Allen
County has it all! Come and discover for yourself our Real American Heart!
Enhancing education is a priority of Lima/Allen County. Our community has outstanding educational
programs for all career paths, including skilled trades. We offer skill trades training programs at both
the vocational level and with full apprentice programs.
Heir Force Community School
Heir Force Community School is committed to providing a safe learning environment where staff,
students, parents and community accept the responsibility of preparing students for academic success and
to face the challenges of the future. Heir Force Community School’s environment of trust and
mutual respect for all people reflects our belief that all students can learn. With rigorous and varied
academic standards, we will work together to prepare our students to take a role in society as
productive citizens and help develop their commitment to learning.
Heir Force Community School services approximately 300 students from a diverse population from the city
of Lima and surrounding areas. The school culture and climate embody a collaborative approach through
its rigor within the curriculum towards closing the achievement gap. Our mission ultimately is to meet
all state academic indicators as outlined by the Ohio Department of Education. Our approach to achieving
this goal is centered on increasing the scores in ELA, Math, Science and Social Studies as outlined with
the American Institute for Research (AIR) Achievement test. Our teachers and staff support this mission
by assessing student readiness, organizing instruction and establishing individualized learning
strategies for the purposes of increasing cognitive development.
The students at Heir Force Community School are living proof that through rigorous coursework, high
expectations and immersion within a positive learning environment that promotes having commitment,
displaying affection, exhibiting respect and showing excitement (CARE), all students can achieve
at a maximum level.
Apollo Career Center
For more than 45 years, Apollo Career Center has been preparing both high school and adult
students for careers with strong employment opportunities in our region.
Our mission—to prepare students to be Next Ready and have a positive impact in our
community—means our students develop adaptability for whatever comes next, along with the
essential skills to succeed.
Responsive to the needs of local businesses and industries, Apollo delivers customized and upgraded
skills training, ensuring a highly skilled workforce for the community.
High school students from 11 area schools can choose from more than 20 career-training programs
designed to launch them toward success after graduation. Through long-standing partnerships with
employers, students gain valuable internships, apprenticeships and job opportunities that strengthen our
economy and community while building bright futures.
Adult Education, an Ohio Technical Center, is one of the region’s leading
training providers. Offering full-time and short-term programs, Adult Education equips learners with new
skills, enhances existing abilities and opens the door to life-changing careers. Backed by strong
business and industry support, Adult Education also delivers customized training, apprenticeships and a
wide range of workforce services.
The Public Safety Division of Adult Education serves more than 150 fire
departments and EMS squads across 14 counties. Its burn room and newly constructed facility provide
vital, realistic training for first responders.
At Apollo Career Center, we believe a highly skilled workforce is essential to community success. We
remain committed to meeting industry needs and preparing our students—youth and adults
alike—to thrive in the careers and challenges of tomorrow.
http://www.apollocareercenter.com
Ohio Northern University
Ohio Northern University is an independent, comprehensive university that offers distinctive,
nationally recognized programs of study. Its integrated liberal and professional education combines
practice with theory and is complemented by excellent co-curricular and high impact experiential
offerings. More than 3,000 students are enrolled in its 40-plus undergraduate and graduate programs in
five colleges: Arts & Sciences, Business, Engineering, Pharmacy and Law.
In 2025, ONU graduates enjoyed a 97% placement rate in full-time jobs and graduate school admissions.
Its rich history of academic excellence is always evolving to meet society’s ever-changing needs.
ONU continues to be ranked among the best universities in the nation for offering an exceptional
education with an outstanding return on investment. ONU offers the best value of any university in Ohio
and the Midwest, according to 2026 rankings by the Wall Street Journal and U.S. News and World
Report.
The university has been developing and preparing good students for great careers at its safe, vibrant,
rural campus in Ada, Ohio, since 1871.
Rhodes State College
Called upon to develop highly trained, innovative, career-ready individuals for every industry and
organization, Rhodes State College has become the right place for students who want to make an impact
right now.
For over 50 years, Rhodes State has changed lives, built futures and improved communities through
lifelong learning. Rhodes State takes pride in training individuals who become essential contributors to
manufacturing, business, health care and their communities. With over 100 programs, majors and
certificates, students come to Rhodes State with promising futures and complete their training with new
jobs, new credentials or their sights set on seamlessly transitioning to a bachelor’s degree
program.
Rhodes State is creating a quality, affordable pathway for students to accomplish their goals, whether
they begin at Rhodes State in high school, through the College Credit Plus program or come seeking a new
path in life, a new hobby or an upgrade to their job skills. Through an extensive partnership with
business, manufacturers, health care providers and organizations in its service area, students have the
opportunity to connect, network and enter new roles upon completion of their courses.
Rhodes State is a vital asset to the region for growth and innovation as we strive to meet the needs of
employers with the credentialed workers they need to succeed and grow. We are creating new programs,
purchasing advanced laboratory equipment and collaborating with regional partners to garner fresh ideas
and insight. The Borra Center for Health Sciences in Downtown Lima is just one example of how Rhodes
State created an interdisciplinary learning environment, equipped with the latest technology to serve
students and the community as a whole.
Students of every variety can experience the excellence of Rhodes State online, on campus or through a
network of educational partners. Rhodes State has staff and faculty to support special needs, help to
engage in student activities or give counseling and career advice. In addition, its alumni family of
over 20,000 is a growing force in the region. They are available as mentors to students and
bridgebuilders for the College into the community. www.rhodesstate.edu
University of Northwestern Ohio
The University of Northwestern Ohio has been pursuing its Drive for Excellence for more than 100 years.
UNOH focuses on practical education, helping students develop the most in-demand skills sought by
businesses and industries on local and national levels. New degree programs in 2026 include High
Performance Calibration with a focus on engine tuning and the expansion of the Construction Equipment
Technology major.
UNOH is a not-for-profit university rooted in entrepreneurism, authorized by the Ohio Department of
Higher Education and accredited by The Higher Learning Commission. The university has five colleges: the
College of Applied Technologies, the College of Business, the College of Occupational Professions,
the College of Health Professions and the Graduate College. At UNOH, there is no out-of-state
tuition, and the university is recognized as one of the most affordable private universities in Ohio,
which is why students from around the country and the world choose UNOH as their home away
from home during their college years. UNOH has taught students from all 50 states and 81 countries and
currently has nearly 3,000 students enrolled this academic year.
The University is known worldwide as a leader in educating students in the Automotive, Diesel and High
Performance industries and also offers nearly 40 degree programs in Business, Health Care, Marketing,
Information Technology, Robotics and Automation, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Motorsports
Marketing, Construction Equipment Technology and many other fields of study. The university also
supports 14 NAIA collegiate athletic teams that compete in the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference.
Newly launched this year is the inaugural season of Women’s Flag Football set for Spring 2027.
A point of pride for UNOH is the ability to offer students real-world internships and work experiences
related to their chosen field of study. Whether it’s interning at the Super Bowl or helping out a
world-class race team in Formula Drift, Monster Jam, NASCAR, IndyCar or at the grassroots dirt tracks
throughout the season, UNOH students make connections to land jobs even before they graduate!
Students at the University of Northwestern Ohio develop lifelong friendships, embrace a culture of
learning and adapt to new techniques and technologies. Every year, the University strives to continue
growing, planning and progressing to meet the needs of its students, the community and the industries it
serves. For more information about UNOH, visit www.unoh.edu.
Bluffton University
For 125 years, Bluffton University’s faculty and staff have dedicated themselves to helping
students find their talents, their passions and, ultimately, their way.
Bluffton offers more than 90 majors, minors and interdisciplinary programs for undergraduate students.
Graduate programs designed for working adults include business administration, education, social work
and nutrition and dietetics.
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a Bluffton University degree is respected across the
country. Ranked in the top tier of Midwest Colleges for more than 20 years in U.S. News and World
Report’s “Best Colleges” guidebook, Bluffton is also recognized as a Top Performer in
Social Mobility and a College of Distinction for over five years.
www.bluffton.edu
The Ohio State University at Lima
Since its founding in 1960, Ohio State Lima has consistently and enthusiastically demonstrated the
land-grant mission of The Ohio State University. That mission—rooted in access, opportunity and
service to the good of our community—remains at the heart of everything we do. For more than six
decades, this campus has opened its doors to students from across northwest Ohio and beyond, offering
them not only an education, but also the chance to grow, to lead and to contribute in meaningful ways to
the communities they call home.
At Ohio State Lima, students enjoy the opportunities and high-caliber education of a Big Ten university
close to home in the learning environment that suits them best. They engage with faculty and peers from
diverse backgrounds who share their passions, turning their education into a dynamic and immersive
experience. The affordable tuition and award-winning teaching and research faculty are available to all
Ohio residents who have graduated from an accredited Ohio high school.
Ohio State Lima students have their choice of 12 bachelor’s degree programs; access to more than
200 Ohio State majors and minors, including emerging and high-demand career fields; and, in January
2026, a fully online associate degree program with concentrations in general studies and social sciences
will join Ohio State Lima’s on-campus associate’s program.
