About
Our History
LaGuardia Community College opened its doors to higher education to all in 1971. Learn more about the College’s history as a bold, innovative catalyst for social change and educational equality in the 20th and 21st centuries.
LaGuardia Community College, is a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and is part of the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP). Located in Long Island City, Queens, and an institution of the City University of New York (CUNY), LaGuardia is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and offers a welcoming environment for immigrants of all nations and individuals of all backgrounds. The College reflects the legacy of our namesake, Fiorello H. LaGuardia, the former NYC mayor beloved for his advocacy of underserved populations. Since opening its doors in 1971, LaGuardia’s academic programs and support services have advanced the socioeconomic mobility of students while providing them with access to a high quality, affordable college education.
Fast Facts
LaGuardia’s Fast Facts are comprised by the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment in collaboration with the Division of Communications and External Affairs.
NOTE: Fast Facts were revised September 2024 with the latest enrollment data available (2023-2024). Download a PDF of Fast Facts.
Our College
Founded: 1971
President: Kenneth Adams
School Colors: Red and White
Mascot: Rebel the Red Hawk
College Namesake: Fiorello H. LaGuardia, NYC’s 99th mayor
(term: January 1, 1934, to January 1, 1946)
Majors: More than 50 majors, certificates, and programs
Continuing Education: More than 68 continuing education programs
LaGuardia at a Glance
- Our students come from 136 countries
- Speak 43 different languages
Degree Students |
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Annual Tuition
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Adult Continuing Education |
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Age
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Faculty
- 387 Full-time
- 464 Part-time
- 62% Have doctorates — more than twice the national average
Staff
- 607 Full-time
- 566 Part-time
College Revenue
- 53% Government Appropriations
- 25% Grants and Contracts
- 6% Tuition and Fees
- 16% Other Sources
- Total Revenue = $254,442,000
Charitable Support
- LaGuardia Community College Foundation, a separate 501(c)(3), has raised over $51 million since its formation in 2003, and has provided scholarships, stipends, emergency aid, and on-campus employment to more than 30,000 students.
- LaGuardia has garnered major support from such leading funders as Goldman Sachs Gives, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Robin Hood, Henry Luce Foundation, The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation, and The Teagle Foundation.
- Secured $27.77 million from government and foundations to continue the development of innovative programs and services that support students.
Milestones and Rankings
- Largest English as a Second Language (ESL) program in New York City.
- Lifetime earnings increase by approximately $400,000 for students with an associate degree.
- LaGuardia ranked #5 among U.S. two-year colleges in economic mobility – moving low-income people to the middle class and beyond – in a Stanford University study.
- LaGuardia students are more likely to transfer to a 4-year college, including some prestigious institutions such as: Stanford, Brown, Columbia, NYU, Cornell, and Vassar.
- LaGuardia follows CUNY’s Pathways to Degree Completion; making it easier for students to transfer to other CUNY institutions.
- 90% of our graduates say their education helped them find jobs after graduation.
Engaging Our Community
- LaGuardia Community Greenway invites New Yorkers to learn about our college and our neighborhood.
- LaGuardia offers affordable Space Rentals to community members seeking areas for events. Visit our campus and learn more.
- We train and prepare New Yorkers for jobs in high-growth areas, including healthcare, technology, advanced industrial, and manufacturing.
- Hands-on education and specialized technical assistance to more than 24,000 small businesses that have secured over a half-a-billion dollars in contracts.
- Earn a high school equivalency diploma, and help them enroll in college.