Milestones
| 1964 | Twenty-two people meet at Garfield Park (then, Mentor Recreation Park) to discuss the idea of a community college for Lake County. County Commissioners appoint a committee to study the feasibility of establishing a community college. |
| 1965 | The citizens of Lake County vote in favor of creating a community college district. |
| 1966 | First board of trustees is appointed. The Ohio Board of Regents grants charter to the board of trustees. |
| 1967 | Voters approve a five-year levy to open and operate the college. Dr. Wayne Rodehorst selected as the college's first president. On September 25, Lakeland opens its doors to 1,073 students in various Painesville buildings on September 25. |
| 1968 | The college purchases 400 acres at the intersection of SR 306 and I-90 from Margaret Moore for $600,000. First Commencement Ceremony is held at St. James Episcopal Church; 55 students receive their degrees, having transferred from former Chandler Tech. Ceremony held dedicating the campus at Kirtland. |
| 1969 | Groundbreaking on the Kirtland site. Construction of campus facilities occurs in three phases. |
| 1970 | Lakeland becomes first two-year institution in Ohio to initiate telecourses for credit. |
| 1971 | Construction of Phase I is complete. General classrooms, laboratories, Library, student services, faculty, and service areas are ready for fall quarter. |
| 1972 | Phase II, providing facilities to support technical education programs, is completed. |
| 1973 | College is granted official accreditation by North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. |
| 1974 | Lakeland Gym is built. |
| 1975 | Phase III, providing for studios and laboratories for the fine arts, a Performing arts center and an art gallery, is completed. |
| 1976 | Construction of the nursing wing is completed. |
| 1977 | Additions to the gym, racquetball courts, wrestling rooms, auxiliary gym, and saunas in the locker rooms are completed; the Lakeland Gym is renamed the Athletic and Fitness Center. |
| 1978 | Annex to the Athletic and Fitness Center is complete. |
| 1981 | Dr. James Cantanzaro appointed college president. |
| 1982 | Cleveland Browns make their pre-season training camp on Lakeland's campus. |
| 1983 | Engineering building completed. |
| 1988 | Dr. Ralph Doty appointed college president. T Building built. |
| 1989 | Center for Business & Industry created to reach out to local business to provide on-site or campus-based training. |
| 1990 | Lakeland receives North Central Accreditation. |
| 1993 | Groundbreaking for Health Technologies building held. |
| 2001 | Dr. Morris W. Beverage, Jr. appointed college president. |
| 2002 | Nuclear Engineering Technology Program with FirstEnergy started. |
| 2005 | United States President George W. Bush holds a roundtable discussion on Lakeland's campus. |
| 2006 | Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools approves online degree programs at Lakeland. |
| 2006 | Lakeland Alumni Hall of Fame established. |
| 2007 | Lakeland celebrates 40th anniversary |
| 2010 | 1.7 mill replacement levy passed by Lake County voters. |
| 2011 | Lakeland's Holden University Center opens, offering bachelor and graduate degrees from a variety of four-year partner institutions. |
| 2011 | 1.5 mill property tax levy renewed by Lake County voters. |
| 2013 | Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center dedicated. |
| 2013 | C-Building renovation completed. |
| 2015 | Lakeland's 0.4 mill bond issue to expand and renovate the Health Technologies (H-Building) approved. |
| 2017 | Lakeland celebrates 50th anniversary. |
| 2018 | Health Technologies (H-Building) expansion and renovation completed. |
| 2018 | HIVE makerspace opens. |
| 2019 | Lakers mascot Crash named. |
| 2020 | Coronavirus pandemic forces transition to remote learning. |
| 2021 | Laketran's Frank J. Polivka Transit Center at Lakeland Community College opens . |
| 2021 | Lakeland receives reaffirmation of accreditation by the Higher Learning Commission. |
| 2021 | WonderStruck outdoor music festival premieres on Lakeland's campus. |
| 2021 | 1.5 mill property tax levy renewed by Lake County voters. |
| 2022 | Lakeland Jazz Festival celebrates 50 years; Lakeland is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense through 2027; Lakeland becomes a smoke- and tobacco-free campus including outdoor spaces; Lakeland adds Esports as a new varsity sport competing in the National Junior College Athletic Associateion Esports Leage. |
| 2023 | Lakeland Civic Chorus celebrates 50 years; Lakeland ranked #2 by WalletHub 2023 Best Community Colleges; Lakeland presidents are honored in street naming ceremony at Vitalia Mentor. |