LaGuardia Community College

LaGuardia Community College is a public community college in New York City. It is located in the Long Island City area of Queens and is part of the City University of New York. The school is named after Fiorello H. LaGuardia, who was a former mayor of New York City.

Students at LaGuardia can earn associate degrees in many subjects, such as the arts, sciences, and applied sciences. The college also has continuing education programs to help people learn new skills and improve their jobs.

History

LaGuardia Community College started on January 22, 1967. It was created by the Board of Higher Education of the City of New York, which was part of the New York State government. At first, it was called "Community College Number Nine." The college wanted to help the local community with activities, learning, and training for people of all ages.

The college opened on September 22, 1971, and got its first approval to give degrees in 1972. Over time, it has had several leaders, including Joseph Shenker, Raymond C. Bowen, and Gail Mellow. Kenneth Adams became the leader in 2020. In 2024, the college got a big gift of money to build a new center for job training, which will open in 2029. The La Guardia and Wagner Archives was also started on campus in 1982.

Campus

LaGuardia Community College began using a former factory building in Long Island City in 1970. This building, now called Shenker Hall, was once home to the Ford Instrument Company. The college planned to move but stayed because of costs.

Today, the campus has many renovated factory and warehouse buildings. It is close to the Long Island Rail Road and has subway and bus service. The campus has modern classrooms, a theater, a library, and sports facilities including a swimming pool.

Academics

LaGuardia Community College offers associate degrees and certificates in over 60 subjects. These include Business and Technology, Liberal Arts, Health, Math, and Science. The college is recognized for its quality by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Enrollment

As of Fall 2025, LaGuardia Community College had 25,877 students. Some were working toward a degree, and others were taking classes to help with their jobs or personal growth.

The college had 14,494 students aiming for a degree and 11,383 students taking classes for other reasons.

Student body

LaGuardia has students from 131 different countries. They speak 31 languages at home. This diversity helps students learn about different cultures and ideas.

Athletics

LaGuardia Community College teams, called the Red Hawks, compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association. They joined the community college section of the City University of New York Athletic Conference in the 2013–14 season. The college offers men's and women's basketball, soccer, and swimming and diving.

Notable people

LaGuardia Community College has helped many interesting people. Some of its alumni include Elly Gross, a poet and author; Heather Foster, a Jamaican American bodybuilder; Ruben Diaz Jr., the Bronx Borough President; Reby Sky, a wrestler; and Rudy Washington, who worked for the city. The college has also had teachers such as Bruce Davidson, a photojournalist; John A. Williams, a writer; and Barbara Zucker, an artist.