Trinity College is a highly selective liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut, and one of the 11 NESCAC schools. Known for its iconic Long Walk — North America's only Burges building and a masterpiece of Collegiate Gothic architecture — Trinity combines a traditional liberal arts curriculum with distinctive strengths in political science, economics, and an unusual ABET-accredited engineering program. Its urban Hartford location enables deep engagement with public policy, urban studies, and the city through the Center for Urban and Global Studies.
Mascot: Bantam
Notable Alumni
Edward Albee (three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright)•George Will (Pulitzer-winning political commentator)•Tucker Carlson (political commentator and media personality)
At a Glance
Cost
Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.
Top Programs & National Ranking
Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.
Highlights
Athletics
Campus Experience
Trinity has a long-standing preppy, Northeast-boarding-school reputation, and while the administration has worked to broaden the culture, the vibe still skews East Coast wealth with Vineyard Vines and Sperrys everywhere. Greek life is officially 18% but historically punched well above its weight — the Vernon Street frat row was the social spine for decades before Vernon Social was converted into the Cornelia Center in 2021. Students can't rush until sophomore year, and the college has pushed alternative social spaces, but house parties on Vernon still anchor many weekends.
The Long Walk — a 1870s Collegiate Gothic masterpiece by English architect William Burges and the only Burges building in North America — is one of the most striking quads in American higher education. Rising above Hartford with spires, arches, and brownstone, Trinity's campus regularly appears on "most beautiful campus" lists and contrasts dramatically with the surrounding urban neighborhood.
Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.
Safety
Trinity Campus Safety operates 24/7 with foot and vehicle patrols, blue-light emergency phones, electronically secured residence halls, and a late-night shuttle service. Most reported on-campus incidents are alcohol-related disciplinary actions.
Trinity sits in Hartford's Frog Hollow/Barry Square neighborhood, a lower-income area with property crime rates above national averages. The immediate campus perimeter is well-patrolled, but students are advised to use the shuttle or stay on campus at night rather than walking in surrounding streets.
Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.
Plan Your Visit
Schedule: Weekdays year-round; select Saturdays during the academic year
Duration: ~60 minutes tour, plus information session
Day Visits (8:45am-3pm) combine a class visit, seated lunch in a campus dining facility, and an admissions interview. High school seniors can arrange overnight visits with a current student host. Group visits require registration three weeks in advance.
Book a TourThe Long Walk and main quad are open to walk-in visitors year-round. Chapel and campus buildings are accessible during normal hours. A downloadable campus map is available from the admissions website.
Tour ResourcesLate September through October for New England fall foliage against the brownstone Gothic buildings — the campus looks its absolute best. Late March through April for admitted student events and mild spring weather. Avoid winter break and August when campus is quiet. Hartford is 2 hours from both NYC and Boston, easy to combine with other NESCAC visits.
Visitor parking available at the Admissions Office at 300 Summit Street (check in to receive a temporary permit). Bradley International Airport (BDL) is 20 minutes north via I-91. Amtrak and CTrail stop at Hartford Union Station, 10 minutes from campus via Uber/Lyft. Once on campus, everything is walkable; avoid walking off-campus at night — use the Trinity shuttle.
Location
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