Delgado Selected among Top Colleges in Louisiana for Online Education

July 06, 2020

Delgado Community College has been selected as one of the best colleges in Louisiana for online education by the higher education information resource Best Value Schools.

Delgado is ranked Number Four in the state, below LSU at Alexandria and Baton Rouge, and McNeese State. The list, including descriptions of schools and online programs, is at www.bestvalueschools.org.

The 99-year-old institution, which serves the Greater New Orleans Region as well as the entire nation and beyond with quality academic and workforce instruction, has been a leader in online education for years, dating back before the Hurricane Katrina disaster of 2005. That event propelled Delgado’s online offerings to the forefront of its curriculum, where during normal times they compose 40 percent of classes offered by the college.

During the upcoming Fall 2020 Semester, COVID-19 safety restrictions have boosted the percentage of online classes, including hybrid and virtual classes with online components, to nearly 100 percent of classes offered.

According to Best Value Schools, “Louisiana has an impressively diverse culture that has influenced its higher education institutions. The constant growth of educational opportunities has led to the development of online learning programs for those students who are pursuing an education as well as other responsibilities. Online degrees are affordable, flexible and convenient. You can find some of the best degrees and programs anywhere in the country through colleges in Louisiana.”

Of the 16 Louisiana higher education institutions on the Best Value Schools list, only Delgado is a two-year, associate-degree college. No other schools in the statewide Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) are ranked. Five schools, including Delgado, are based in the city of New Orleans. Three of the New Orleans schools are private, selective institutions: Loyola, Tulane and Xavier. Only Delgado has an open admissions policy, enabling all who apply to have an opportunity to enroll.

There is no fee to apply for admission to attend Delgado, and starting in Fall 2020 there is no extra tuition for students who are not Louisiana residents. Already a tremendous value for accredited higher education at about half the cost of attending a public four-year institution in Louisiana, Delgado is positioned to attract and serve new students from nearby Mississippi counties as well as other states, and international students.

In addition to online classes that are part of a curriculum that includes face-to-face and other forms of instruction, Delgado provides seven fully online associate degree programs, with 21 different concentrations—including Business, Criminal Justice, Hospitality Management, Humanities and Social Sciences. Delgado also provides three fully online certificate programs, with 11 different concentrations including Accounting, Logistics, Medical Coding, Real Estate, and Web Site Design.

These are just the classes and programs offered on the academic side of the Delgado educational enterprise. On the job-training-focused Workforce Development side, the college offers a constantly evolving array of online instructional programs and industry-based certifications in fields that are considered to be part of high-demand employment sectors. These fields include Information Technology, Healthcare and Fitness, Project Management and Trades, Energy and Transportation.

Fall Semester registration is open and students are encouraged to register early. Delgado is providing face-to-face and virtual enrollment assistance at the City Park Campus, along with virtual orientation sessions. Students also can chat online with a staff member and be referred to virtual offices as needed. The college’s service resources are available at www.dcc.edu/go/welcome.

For information about online Workforce Development classes, the website is www.dcc.edu/go/continuing-ed.

Delgado Community College will celebrate 100 years of service to the New Orleans region in 2021. The oldest and largest community college in Louisiana, Delgado provides instruction online and at seven locations. Delgado offers students the most comprehensive array of education and training services available in the New Orleans region. Additionally, Delgado has articulation agreements with most of the state’s four-year colleges and universities that allow students to transfer their Delgado credits to bachelor’s degree programs. As well as offering degrees and transferable college credits, Delgado provides diplomas and certificates in many professional and technical areas. Workforce development is a priority at Delgado, hence the college’s well-known motto: “Education that works!” www.dcc.edu