Central Connecticut State University

Statistics

Scholarships & Financial Aid

School Says - General Information
Selected as one of the "Great Colleges for the Real World" and honored as a "Leadership Institution" by the Association of American Colleges & Universities, Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) is a comprehensive public university dedicated to learning in the liberal arts and sciences and to education for the professions. Comprising five schools_Arts & Sciences, Business, Education & Professional Studies, Engineering & Technology, and Graduate Studies_CCSU offers full- and part-time undergraduate programs in more than 100 areas of study.

Conveniently located in New Britain, CCSU's innovative undergraduate curriculum inspires student learning in a wide range of fields, while extensive internship and co-op opportunities help students prepare for rewarding careers. The University's Division I athletics teams provide exciting opportunities to play or watch.

School Says - Student Body
There are 120 student clubs and organizations, which cover a broad range of interests: academic--such as the Anthropology or the Investment clubs; athletic--such as the crew or flying clubs; cultural--for example, the art club, the jazz band, and other musical organizations; ethnic--such as the Black Student Union, Latin American Students Organization, and the Muslim Student Association; religious--such as Hillel and the Newman Club; and such honors organizations as Delta Mu Delta, Lambda Delta, and Kappa Delta Pi. On-campus entertainment is wide and varied, including, most recently, "Devils Den@ 10"_student-run entertainment on Thursday evenings.

School Says - Academics
CCSU also offers a number of interdisciplinary programs as well as independently designed majors. The Honors Program, a challenging interdisciplinary program of study for academically qualified students, offers half- and full-tuition merit scholarships and a variety of other benefits and resources, including a new Honors Lab.

The academic excellence of CCSU's innovative undergraduate education was nationally recognized when the Association of American Colleges & Universities selected CCSU as a "Leadership Institution," one of only 16 in the nation and the only one in Connecticut. Together with such other prestigious institutions as Colgate University, Duke University, and the University of Michigan, CCSU stands as a national example of quality undergraduate education. Central Connecticut State University is fast realizing its aspiration to become the best public comprehensive university in the region.

School Says - Admissions
CCSU is a learning community of students with a broad range of abilities, interests, and backgrounds. We value excellence and achievement in academic scholarship, community involvement, and extracurricular activities. Our admissions process evaluates the readiness of applicants to succeed based on past demonstrations of academic and personal successes. The preferred deadlines for best consideration are May 1 (for Fall semester) and December 1 (for Spring).

First-year applicants are considered on the basis of performance in college preparatory classes, rank in class, SAT or ACT test scores, recommendations, and community and extracurricular involvement and leadership. A personal essay is required. For some applicants an interview with a representative of the Office of Recruitment & Admissions may be necessary. If the applicant ranks in the top 20% of his/her class, is an A-B student, and has SAT scores of 1100 or higher, the student should consider finding out about CCSU's Honors Program by calling 860-832-2938 for details. CCSU accepts most Advanced Placement (AP) courses for college credit, provided the minimum CCSU required score is achieved. Check with Admissions for the required scores.

Admission criteria include graduation from a regionally accredited secondary school. High school work should include college preparatory courses in: English (four years); Mathematics (covering algebra I, geometry, and algebra II); Science (two years including one-year lab science); Social sciences (two to three years including U.S. history). Coursework in foreign language is recommended (at least three consecutive years of the same foreign language up through the third level will satisfy the foreign language proficiency required of all CCSU-enrolled students). Students whose preparation does not follow this pattern may still qualify for admission if, in the judgment of the Director of Recruitment and Admissions, there is strong evidence that they have the potential to complete a degree program or if they meet other established criteria as authorized by the University President under authority delegated by the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State University System. Applicants who are not graduates of a secondary school should submit their secondary school transcript up to the time of withdrawal and a copy of their high school equivalency diploma and scores. Students interested in enrolling part-time on a non-degree basis should contact Continuing Education at (860) 832-2255.

The most important thing for the applicant to remember is to provide as much information as possible - achievements, awards, and examples of leadership - when applying.

HOW TO APPLY
Students are encouraged to apply online at www.ccsu.edu. For paper applications, please provide the Office of Recruitment & Admissions with 1) completed application for undergraduate admission 2) official high school transcript, SAT or ACT test scores, recommendations, and essay and 3) a non-refundable application fee of $50. All correspondence should be sent to the Office of Recruitment and Admissions, CCSU, P.O. Box 4010, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050-4010.
Tours and information sessions may be arranged by calling 860.832.2289 or via e-mail at: admissions@ccsu.edu.

School Says - Campus Life
CCSU is located in suburban New Britain, conveniently located in the center of Connecticut, approximately 2 hours from Boston or New York. The campus has been recently renovated. The University is surrounded by a pleasant neighborhood, with shopping and dining facilities nearby.

School Says - Cost Aid
Expenses for the 2008-09 academic year include tuition (in-state: $7,414; out-of-state: $17,106), room and board ($9,308 [approx.]); expenses for books, transportation, fees, and other expenses range from $5000 (in residence) to $6000 (off-campus residence).Approximately 75% of CCSU full-time students receive some form of financial aid. CCSU's office of Financial Aid works with students to help them meet educational expenses from their first year until graduation. To apply for financial aid students must complete the FAFSA form. For more information, call 860.832.2200, e-mail FinancialAid3@ccsu.edu, or on the Web at www.ccsu.edu/finaid.

Students Say - Academics
Central Connecticut State University is an "affordable," medium-sized school with a host of "good academic programs." The school of education is particularly notable. There are solid study abroad options. Opportunities for undergraduate research are ample, "especially in the sciences." CCSU's campus is "beautifully landscaped" but "a few of the buildings need overhauling." The library in particular "could use an aesthetic lift." One student also suggests that "desks should be thrown into Long Island Sound." The faculty receives mixed reviews. "We have some great professors," says an education major. "There are also some that are not so great." "My professors are excellent," says a music education major. "They really know their subject." Other professors "have cool jobs" and bring real world experience to night classes. Some profs "are just here for the benefits," though. Foreign professors with thick accents in math, science, and tech classes also cause "misunderstanding and confusion." The small class sizes at CCSU "make it easier to have one-to-one communication" with professors. Many faculty members are "very accessible" and "may even allow you to make house calls if necessary." Others are "not that reachable." A few students laud the top brass. To others, the administration seems "distant" and "mostly disorganized." "Each department is very different," observes a sophomore.

Students Say - Campus Life
The campus at CCSU is a nice size. It's not too big but not too small either. "The cafeteria food is disgusting," though. "I refuse to eat in the dining hall most days," says a junior. Socially, CCSU is "really a commuter school." "For fun, people either go to the student center to hang out or go out with friends to either other dorm rooms or apartments nearby," says a freshman. "There are movie nights on Wednesdays and activity nights every Thursday in the student center." Thursday is also the "big party night." After that, a whole lot of students head home for the weekend. If you stick around, "weekends are awful." "If you're thinking of coming here and are from out of state, I would reconsider unless you're pretty outgoing," cautions a junior. Students who stick around "tend to go off cam- pus to do stuff." Without question, "having a car helps." Surrounding towns and the bright lights of nearby Hartford provide some decent options for weekend fun.

Students Say - Student Body
The typical student is a commuter. "Most students are middle-class Connecticut residents who are coming here because it's cheap and nearby," says a junior. There is "a wide range of minority students" on campus. "The diversity is great," enthuses a sophomore. "It's a very welcoming atmosphere." "Everyone fits in one way or another" but cliques are common. "Generally, the athletes hang out with the athletes; minorities hang out with minorities; etc." A lot of students have "many things aside from classes going on, like a job." CCSU is also something of a haven for nontraditional and older students. "It is very appropriate for working professionals."

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