Esperanza College of Eastern University

Located on 4261 N. 5^th Street, Philadelphia, PA, the Esperanza College of Eastern University will be celebrating its 25^th anniversary next year. In 2000, a faith-based junior college was founded as a collaboration between Nueva Esperanza Inc. and Eastern University. Originally named, Nueva Esperanza Center for Higher Education (NECHE), it was the first college dedicated to serving the Latino population in the United States. Classes met at the Esperanza Inc. facilities located at N. 5^th Street. The school serves mainly "nontraditional students," some of which had not been in school for many years. The majority of the students speak Spanish at home; therefore, different tracks are offered to support transition from Spanish to English fluency for those students needing it.

Located on 4261 N. 5^th Street, Philadelphia, PA, the Esperanza College of Eastern University will be celebrating its 25^th anniversary next year. In 2000, a faith-based junior college was founded as a collaboration between Nueva Esperanza Inc. and Eastern University. Originally named, Nueva Esperanza Center for Higher Education (NECHE), it was the first college dedicated to serving the Latino population in the United States. Classes met at the Esperanza Inc. facilities located at N. 5^th Street.

Before then, though, the location had undergone quite a lot of changes. During the 1890s to 1920s, the site was home to the Northern Philadelphia Stock Yard. From the 1920s to the 1950s, the main structure was built and became the home of the Pioneer Paperstock Co. After that, the building changed hands to the 5^th and Bristol Hardware Manufacturing Company from the 1960s to the 1980s. Finally, in 1986, Esperanza was founded.

By the time the first class graduated in 2004, NECHE had already made a name for itself. The school served mainly "nontraditional students," some of which had not been in school for many years. The majority of the students speak Spanish at home; therefore, different tracks are offered to support transition from Spanish to English fluency for those students needing it.

In 2005, several major awards and titles were granted. The site was awarded branch campus status at the same time that it was designated a Hispanic Serving Institution (HIS). NECHE was also awarded a U.S. Department of Education Title V grant to grow its program offerings and expand facilities. This led to discussions in 2006 of renaming NECHE "Esperanza College," and construction began on the updated location. By 2007, Esperanza College officially opened its doors and has continued to grow ever since.

Highlights over the years include a second Title V grant being awarded in 2010 to add programs in Accounting, Middle Level Education, and Medical Assisting to existing programs such as Business, Criminal Justice, and more. In 2013, a new wing was opened with science labs, a simulation lab, a student lounge, and more classrooms – the same year that Esperanza was named a Finalist in Examples of Excelencia Awards. Four years later, a third Title V grant allowed for more programs to be offered, including Media & Technology and Health Sciences, as well as the construction of a Student Success Hub. From 2019-2021, additional laboratories, a media studio, and other spaces opened up. By 2021, the first cohort of the Early College program began, and an E-sports program was added to the curriculum, with their lounge opening in 2023. Another grant was awarded to the college in 2022 to help expand their online offerings. In 2024, a new community library, Liberty Library, was opened at the college.

Esperanza College.