Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI)
As of 2025, the CT State campuses of Capital, Gateway, Housatonic, Naugatuck Valley, Norwalk and Tunxis were officially designated as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Manchester, Middlesex and CT State as-a-whole also meet the Hispanic enrollment threshold and will pursue the designation. This federal status is awarded to not-for-profit colleges where at least 25% of the full-time equivalent undergraduate enrollment is Hispanic. This recognition highlights the college's commitment to serving a diverse student body and ensures these campuses meet rigorous criteria for supporting Hispanic student success. Browse the full list of institutions.
Military Friendly® Schools
For the 2024-2025 academic year, CT State Middlesex and Three Rivers earned the prestigious Military Friendly® School Gold designation, placing them in the top ten percent of schools nationwide. Middlesex further achieved a "Gold Top 10" designation for 2025, while Asnuntuck also received a Military Friendly® School designation. These honors are awarded to institutions that meet high thresholds for student veteran retention, graduation, job placement and persistence, helping service members and their families identify the best colleges for their civilian career goals. Learn more about CT State Middlesex being named a Top 10 Military Friendly School.
Top Community College Ranking
In 2024, CT State was ranked third in the nation by WalletHub, a financial website, in its annual report on the best community colleges in the U.S. The ranking is determined by an analysis of 653 community colleges across 18 metrics of cost and quality, including tuition rates, student-faculty ratios, and graduation outcomes, reflecting CT State's commitment to delivering high-quality, affordable education.
Higher Education Community College Excellence Award
CT State was awarded a 2024 Higher Education Community College Excellence Award from Insight into Diversity Magazine -- the leader in advancing best practices in DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) in higher education.