Admissions

Your CT State Community College Counseling Resource

Do you have a student who’s interested in free college tuition, a selective admissions program (like nursing), or one of our other 300+ degrees and certificate programs offered at CT State?

Today, CT State has become a popular choice for many high school students (and their parents) who want an alternative to attending a costly four-year public and/or private institution. Remember: By working with one of our Guided Pathways Advisors, students from CT State can easily form a plan to transfer their earned credits toward a bachelor’s degree program at both public and private colleges. Please visit the transfer planning page for more information.

When applying, students will need to choose a “home campus,” typically based on its proximity to their home or work. However, now that all twelve campuses have merged, students can sign up for classes on multiple campuses and have them all appear on the same transcript!

April is Open House Month at all CT State campuses 
Visit our event calendar for upcoming open houses, information sessions, campus tours and other ways your students can get to know one campus or multiple campuses at CT State.

At CT State we provide important services geared to meet student needs and promote academic success at all of our locations:

• Guided Pathways Advising
• Honors Program
• Mental Health Counseling and Wellness On-Campus Counselors
• TimelyCare (Telehealth Resources)
• Tutoring and Academic Support
• Student Food Pantry, Career Closet and Diaper Banks
• Technology Support and Laptop Loaner Programs
• Career Counseling (Job Coaching, Career Fairs, Internships, Handshake)
• U-Pass CT Transit Program ($50 per semester unlimited bus and train)
• Disability and Accessibility Services
• Veterans Services

Check out our current Welcome to CT State Newsletter (coming soon)

If you already have a relationship with one of our Recruitment and Outreach Specialists at a nearby campus, please continue to work with them. 

If you are not sure who to work with, please send an email to  CTState-AdmissionsRecruitment@ct.edu

High school seniors planning to attend CT State must complete the following:

When students fill out a CT State application, they will enter into a communication plan with reminders about documents and deadlines to become a student. If your students have questions or problems with the process, please have them contact CTState-Admissions@ct.edu.

Known as the Mary Ann Handley Award, CT State offers funding that covers the gap between the federal and state grants students receive and community college tuition and mandatory fees. By receiving this additional funding, students who meet the requirements below are eligible for free tuition. This means students from all income levels and all cities and towns in Connecticut are eligible! 

Eligible students must be residents of Connecticut, be high school graduates (GED and home-schooled students qualify), and must complete the FAFSA and all other financial aid requirements. Students must be enrolled either full or part-time in a degree or credit-bearing certificate program and, once enrolled, remain in good academic standing.

Please note that tuition-free funding is available for the fall and spring terms only. It is not available for the summer term.

Once their application, official high school transcripts, and immunization records have been submitted to CT State via our secure campus portal, your students will be admitted as new students.  Please tell them to look for an official email and welcome packet with information regarding registration and new student orientation information. Registering early and attending an orientation (online or in-person) are key to their success!

Counseling Your Students about CT State Selective Admissions

CT State has eighteen selective admissions programs ranging from nursing to radiography to dental hygiene and veterinary technology. As selective programs, all require a specific list of college courses to be completed (usually with a C or better) to be eligible to apply.

If you have students interested in any of our selective admissions programs, please encourage them to do the following:

• Read through the selective admissions page to get an understanding of the programs, locations, required courses, and required GPA. Please remind them that all required courses are at the college level. High school courses with the same name do not count.
• Fill out an Application Form and choose General Studies as their major. They will be General Studies students first before they are accepted into the program.
• Once admitted, speak with a Guided Pathways Advisor when registering for classes, so they understand the courses they need to take and can be mindful of application deadlines when they have completed their requirements.
• Attend an Information Session. Before applying, students are encouraged to attend an information session on their “home campus” (e.g., the campus where they plan to take the program). When applying for a selective admissions program, students may only apply to one home campus at a time. However, if they are eligible to apply for more than one type of program, they may apply to multiple selective admissions programs (e.g., nursing, radiography, and nuclear medicine).

As a prospective student to CT State Community College you have access to many amazing academic programs that can change your life.

Please find the student type below that describes you, to see what comes next for applying and gaining admission to CT State.

I've never attended another college or university after receiving my high school diploma.

I've attended another college or university, outside of the 12 community college campuses in Connecticut, after receiving my high school diploma.

I have attended one of the 12 community colleges in the past but have not been enrolled at one of the colleges for two or more years.

I’m interested in becoming a student in one of the selective admission areas within nursing and health careers. Please Note: Each program requires a unique set of admissions requirements that must be completed by the application deadline.

I'm a current high school student and want to take college classes while still enrolled in high school.

I'm not a citizen or permanent resident of the United States and will require an F-1 student visa to reside and study in the US, OR I am applying as an F-1 transfer student from another US college or university, OR I am already in the US on a valid nonimmigrant visa and want to change to F-1 student status.

I’m interested in enrolling in a short-term licensure, certificate or continuing education program to enhance my career or personal development. Please Note: Many of our programs offer national and state certifications, and each program may have specific prerequisites or enrollment steps based on industry standards or training formats. Review the program details carefully to ensure eligibility and to understand the registration process.

If you’re part of another group that may have different considerations when applying, such as a homeschool student, senior citizen, second degree, or New England Regional Student Program, there are a few options for you.

Email us at CTState-AdmissionsRecruitment@ct.edu for more information.

Applying for admission and registering for classes is the same across the campuses. One admission application will allow you access to offerings at all locations! CT State Community College offers academic opportunities for everyone, regardless of age or background. We're committed to providing students with quality and affordable education to obtain a degree or certificate in your chosen area with the benefits of twelve locations.

Learn more about the 300+ degree and certificate programs offered at CT State.

Learn more about our different campuses and satellite locations and choose your home campus.

Before registering for classes, you will need to apply to the college.

You may qualify for financial aid to help cover the cost of tuition, fees and books. All students are encouraged to apply for financial aid.

The myCTState Online Orientation will provide you with information related to academic and campus resources as well as student support services that will help you acclimate to the college environment and get the most out of your college experience.

Guided Pathways Advisors will help you pick the courses you need for your program of study and career goals.

Registering for classes at CT State is easy! Just follow the steps for new or continuing students.

All new, transfer and readmit students should complete New Student Orientation to prepare for the start of classes and get to know their home campus.

After registering for classes, you'll need to pay for any remaining balance not covered by financial aid or scholarships/grants.

Our Workforce Development and Continuing Education courses may be just what you're looking for!