Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College

What Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College does

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University (LCOOU) is a non-profit tribal university headquartered at 13466 W. Trepania Road in Hayward, Wisconsin, founded in 1982 as the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College and renamed to university status in Fall 2022 after the Higher Learning Commission fully accredited its first two master's degree programs. The institution operates a main campus, three outreach sites in Red Cliff, Bad River, and Lac du Flambeau, the LCOOU Extension Farm, and an 82-bed (expandable to 98) dormitory under construction since June 2024. It serves primarily low-income, first-generation, and American Indian and Alaska Native students from rural Northern Wisconsin, with an average student demographic of a 36-year-old woman attending part-time, and explicitly welcomes non-Native and adult learners.

LCOOU's core academic portfolio spans certificates through master's degrees, including Associate Degree Programs (Liberal Arts, Nursing, Accounting, Agriculture and Natural Resource Management, Small Business Management, Native American Studies with Language Emphasis), Bachelor's Degrees (Biology with Biomedical Sciences or Agriculture concentrations, Business Administration, and a newly approved K-9 Education program), and Master's Degrees (Business Management, Human Services). Supporting infrastructure includes TRIO advising, tutoring, a laptop lending program, an emergency aid program, Uwill mental health counseling, and Ojibwe language immersion curricula. The technology stack is built on Canvas LMS, Ellucian Colleague (with full payroll, HR, and financial aid module implementation), TouchNet for student payments, Office 365, and integrations with Student Freedom Initiative, Cisco, and Achieving the Dream. Notable program launches include the EMS Training Center (Wisconsin DHS approval October 2023) and the Bachelor of Science in Biology (first cohort Fall 2023).

The business model is a tuition-and-fee structure supplemented by federal TCU appropriations, Pell Grants, donor-funded scholarships (no loans are offered), grants, and a University Store. Revenue concentration risk is high because the institution depends on federal funding streams that have faced proposed cuts of up to 83% in recent federal budget proposals, with 72% of LCOOU students negatively exposed to Pell Grant changes. Recurring revenue is also supported by partnerships with AIHEC, AICF, SFI/Cisco, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Senator Tammy Baldwin's office ($10M housing earmark), and the U.S. Department of Energy (TCU Energy and Food Sovereignty Nexus Prize).

Name

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College

Legal name

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University

Website

https://lco.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Short description

LCOOU is a non-profit tribal university in Hayward, Wisconsin, offering associate through master's degrees with integrated Anishinaabe language and culture curricula to Native American and non-traditional adult students across Northern Wisconsin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tribal Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Tribal Four-Year Colleges & Universities (Bachelor’s–Granting) (EDAHANAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Tribal Health Sciences & Allied Health Colleges (Nursing/Allied Health Focus) (EDAHANAF)

Keywords

• Tribal higher education
• Associate degree programs
• Nursing education programs
• Indigenous language education
• Workforce training certificates

Headquarters

HQ city

Hayward

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from student tuition and fees for degree programs and certificates. Institution offers affordable education compared to other colleges/universities with financial aid help. No loans offered - students pursue degrees with grants/scholarships.
2. Federal Funding: Federal funding critical to TCU higher education including Pell Grants (72% of students negatively impacted by proposed changes). Federal funding for tribal colleges has been proposed for 83% reduction from $127.4 million to $22.1 million. Annual program for construction and capital improvements proposed for 100% reduction from $8 million to $0.
3. Financial Aid Disbursement: $1,382,016 of financial aid disbursed to eligible students for 2022-2023 award year
4. University Store: Retail operations through University Store offering merchandise and refreshments
5. Donations and Scholarships: Donor-funded scholarships including $72,800 awarded to 79 students for Spring 2023 semester, $47,000 awarded to 58 students for Fall 2024. Agriculture & Natural Resource Scholarship offering 25 $1,000 scholarships per semester for 12 years.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University (LCOOU) is a non-profit tribal university that delivers post-secondary education ranging from GED/HSED preparation and certificate programs through associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. Instruction is delivered on the main Hayward, Wisconsin campus, three outreach sites (Red Cliff, Bad River, Lac du Flambeau), and via the Canvas online learning platform, with Anishinaabe/Ojibwe language, culture, and history integrated across the curriculum.

Product overview

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University (LCOOU) is a non-profit tribal university offering a comprehensive post-secondary education portfolio from certificate programs through master's degrees. The institution operates as a single integrated university with multiple delivery modes including main campus, outreach centers (Red Cliff, Bad River, Lac du Flambeau), and online platforms. Core academic products include Associate Degree Programs (Liberal Arts, Nursing, Accounting, Agriculture, Business), Bachelor's Degree Programs (Biology, Business Administration, Elementary Education), and Master's Degree Programs (Business Management, Human Services). Supporting infrastructure includes student housing (dormitory under construction), library services, and career/technical education through the CTE division. The university's unique position centers on Anishinaabe/Ojibwe language, culture, and history integration across all programs, with specialized offerings in Indigenous education, Native American studies, and tribal community services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Associate Degree Programs Two-year associate degrees in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Accounting, Agriculture and Natural Resource Management, Small Business Management, and Native American Studies with Language Emphasis offered to students on the main campus and outreach locations.
• Bachelor's Degree Programs Four-year bachelor's degrees including Bachelor of Science in Biology (with Biomedical Sciences and Agriculture & Natural Resource Management concentrations), Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and Elementary/Middle School Education (K-9) preparing graduates for teaching licensure.
• Master's Degree Programs Graduate programs including Master of Science in Business Management and Master in Human Services, the first master's degrees offered by the institution.
• Certificate Programs Vocational certificates including GED/HSED preparation, AODA, Early Childhood Education, Specialized Ojibwe Language Certificate, and Emergency Medical Technician training for students seeking short-term credentials.
• Associate Nursing Program ACEN-accredited two-year nursing program with NCLEX preparation; graduates receive an Associate Degree in Nursing and participate in a Nightingale Pledge and pinning ceremony.
• EMS Training Center Emergency Medical Services training facility offering EMT courses in partnership with Round Lake Fire/Rescue, Sawyer County Ambulance, and Great Divide Ambulance Service.
• Career & Technical Education (CTE) Workforce development programs including the University Farm, Energy Audit Training, and Emergency Services Training offered through the CTE division and Extension services.

Quantifiable outcome

• $20.9 million local economic impact in February 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Native American Language Resource Center ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 October 2023U.S. Department of Education awarded $6.6 million grant led by UH Hilo with LCOOU and University of Alaska Southeast as consortium partners. First of its kind for Indigenous language education. Dr. Migizi Michael Sullivan represents LCOOU as Native American Studies Director.
• University of Alaska SoutheastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner in National Native American Language Resource Center with long-standing ties to UH Hilo and LCOOU for language reclamation efforts.
• NorthLakes Community ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded first Indigenous Health Care Scholarship managed by American Indian College Fund. Raised over $110,000 for endowment. Associated Bank donated $5000 for inaugural scholarship. Scholarship helps recruit and diversify healthcare workforce in Northern Wisconsin tribal regions.
• American Indian College FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManages Indigenous Health Care Scholarship endowment and other scholarship programs for TCU students.
• Woodstone Inc.minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNative American owned construction company contracted for student housing project. One of fastest-growing Native American owned construction companies with work across 45 Tribes in 16 states. Mission to build people, relationships, and communities.
• LSE ArchitectsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm contracted to design student housing facility. Founded 2011 with partners having 90+ years combined experience. Extensive experience in community, education, entertainment, gaming, hospitality markets.
• Achieving the Dream (ATD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for DREAM conference participation, peer mentor program development, emergency aid program funding, laptop lending program, and advising model development in conjunction with AIHEC and AICF.
• American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual student conference participation with 38 TCUs. Student competitions in archery, art, business bowl, knowledge bowl, science poster, speech, traditional plants. LCOOU returned to AIHEC making new connections with students and faculty.
• Wisconsin Department of Health ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIssued approval for LCOOU to become Emergency Medical Service Training Center October 4, 2023.
• Round Lake Fire/Rescue Medical RespondersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkgroup partner in EMS Training Center development. Provided $26,683.47 from Wisconsin Flex Grant for establishment of EMS Training Center.
• Sawyer County AmbulanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkgroup partner in EMS Training Center development to address shortage of emergency medical service personnel.
• Great Divide Ambulance ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkgroup partner in EMS Training Center development.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Blackfeet Community College: Montana tribal college serving the Blackfeet Nation with associate and bachelor's programs through HLC accreditation. Comparable to LCOOU in scale, federal funding model, and rural-residential student profile, with overlapping cultural-language integration across curriculum.
• Salish Kootenai College: Montana-based tribal college serving the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes with associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. Closely comparable to LCOOU in product mix (health sciences, business, education), HLC accreditation status, and TCU federal funding model.
• Turtle Mountain Community College: North Dakota tribal college offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees to the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. Directly comparable to LCOOU as a Chippewa-serving TCU with similar online and outreach delivery, Ojibwe-adjacent cultural programming, and Pell-dependent student body.
• Aaniiih Nakoda College: Montana tribal college (formerly Fort Belknap College) serving the Aaniiih and Nakoda nations with associate and bachelor's programs. Comparable to LCOOU in size, HLC accreditation scope, and TCU federal funding exposure, with similar rural geographic constraints.
• Bay Mills Community College: Michigan tribal college chartered by the Bay Mills Indian Community offering associate degrees and bachelor's programs with HLC accreditation. Comparable to LCOOU as a Great Lakes Chippewa-region TCU with similar enrollment size, online offerings, and student demographics.
• Diné College: The first tribal college established (1968), serving the Navajo Nation with campuses in Arizona and New Mexico. Comparable to LCOOU as a TCU with HLC accreditation, associate/bachelor's programs, and the same federal Title III/TCU funding stream, but at materially larger scale.
• College of Menominee Nation: Wisconsin-based tribal college offering associate, bachelor's, and graduate programs to Menominee communities. Directly comparable to LCOOU as a fellow Wisconsin TCU — the two institutions co-host the Seven Generations Inter-Tribal Leadership Summit and share similar accreditation footprint, student demographics, and federal funding exposure.
• Stone Child College: Montana tribal college on the Rocky Boy's Reservation offering associate degrees and certificate programs with HLC accreditation. Comparable to LCOOU as a small, rural TCU dependent on federal appropriations and Pell Grants, with similar workforce-training emphasis (nursing, EMS-adjacent).
• Sitting Bull College: North Dakota tribal college authorized by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe offering associate, bachelor's, and master's programs. Comparable to LCOOU in scale, HLC accreditation, and reliance on TCU federal appropriations and Pell Grants for the majority of its student population.

Broad incumbents

• Haskell Indian Nations University: Federally operated tribal university in Lawrence, Kansas, serving Native American students nationwide with associate and bachelor's programs. Comparable to LCOOU as a Native-serving higher education institution with cultural curriculum integration, though federally rather than tribally chartered, and operating at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lcoocc
• Instagraminstagram.com/p/C3F5OLrMI7Z
• Xx.com/lcoocc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lac-courte-oreilles-ojibwe-community-college

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College