Delgado Community College in New Orleans

Delgado Community College in New Orleans is the largest and oldest community college in Louisiana. The original Delgado school opened in 1921, so students, staff, alumni, and maybe even the Delgado ducks who wander the campus are celebrating the school’s 90th birthday.

The college is named after its original benefactor, Issac Delgado. He was a Jamaican immigrant to New Orleans in the 19th century and became a rich sugar planter and philanthropist. He is also the founder of the New Orleans Museum of Art, which was originally named the Delgado Museum of Art until the mid-20th century.

Delgado's 1909 bequest to the City of New Orleans for the establishment of a manual trade school for boys, which opened in September 1921 for about 1300 students. which eventually evolved into the current Delgado.

The current main Delgado campus is still on the site of that original school. The land purchased with Delgado’s wealth – 57 acres next to New Orleans City Park.

Delgado had its ups and downs over the years. It was a successful trade school through the Roaring Twenties, but was knocked down by the Great Depression. With the need for skilled labor during World War II, Delgado rebounded in the 1940's with a new mission.

There were more financial problems in the 1950’s. By the 1960’s, the institution had evolved into a comprehensive community/junior college. Ever since the 1970’s, Delgado has been growing. Its exact name has changed a few times with its morphing mission. Its current name, Delgado Community College, was bestowed in 1980.

Delgado functions as a junior college, a job training institution, and a lifetime learning center. It offers college credit courses for the first two years of college, which many students transfer to a four-year college. There are many reasons to attend a community college like Delgado for college credit.

Although Delgado doesn't offer bachelor degrees, students can earn two-year Associate Degrees in a great variety of subjects. In addition, the school awards various diplomas and certificates for various programs.

At Delgado you can cover basic college courses, take English as a Second Language (ESL), get a Fine Arts Associate degree, a sign language certificate, gain computer or business skills.

Courses include the array of arts and humanities, communication, business, technology, allied health, science, mathematics, and technical studies.

Charity Nursing School is now at Delgado. There's also an early childhood education program.

Delgado often adds new programs especially related to careers. Maintaining a skilled local workforce is part of its mission. For instance, Culinary Arts/Hospitality, TV production, and Veterinary Tech are among the newer programs.

Delgado's has a variety of non-credit Continuing Education and Workforce Development/Education programs. Many are intended for personal enrichment and lifetime learning. In fact at Delgado, you’ll often find students who already have degrees attending both non-credit and college credit courses mainly for personal enrichment.

Non-credit classes include a variety of arts & crafts, languages, computer skills, food & beverage, design, entrepreneurship & business, exercise, dance, DYI, exercise and more.

There are certification preparation programs at Delgado for a variety of careers such as notary public, private investigator, Coast Guard marine certifications, home inspection, fitness trainer, energy efficiency, travel agent and city tour guide.

Delgado has expanded beyond the City Park campus and even beyond the city limits. The main campus next to City Park was terribly damaged by Katrina and the post-hurricane flood, but it quickly was back in business despite many shuttered buildings.

There's also a smaller but growing west bank New Orleans campus in Algiers on the river. The school also holds classes across the lake on the north shore and at several Jefferson Parish satellite sites.

Both credit and non-credit courses are offered during the day, evening, weekend, and on-line. As you may expect, many students are part-time and/or have full-time jobs.

There's no doubt that Delgado Community College is an essential element in New Orleans education.

Delgado Community College is accredited by the Commission on College of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.