New York City College of Technology

City Tech was founded in 1946 as The New York State Institute of Applied Arts and Sciences, as one of five institutes established that year by the legislature of the State of New York. The urgent mission at the time was to provide training to GIs returning from the Second World War and to provide New York with the technically proficient workforce it would need to thrive in the emerging post-war economy. The initial three programs offered were Retail Distribution and Commerce, Commercial Art and Industrial Design, and Dental Laboratory Technology.

From its beginnings as an Institute—to being chartered as a community college—and subsequently transitioning to senior college status during the 1980s—it has grown from serving 246 students in 1946, to a population today of more than 30,000 degree and non-degree seeking students.

In 1971, the Voorhees Technical Institute (originally founded as part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Schools in 1880, and then as the New York Trade School until 1961) was acquired by City Tech. It had its own building at 450 West 41st Street, operated until 1987.

Past programs at City Tech have included classes for detainees at the Brooklyn House of Detention. In 1974, thirty individuals received certificates for completion of continuing education programs there.