Trinity College

Hartford, CT · founded 1823 · 2,200 students · liberal arts college · NESCAC

Known for: Trinity College is a selective liberal arts college known for its strong programs in the humanities, social sciences, and its urban location in Hartford. It has a historic campus and a reputation for blending traditional academics with engagement in the city.

Rankings

U.S. News liberal arts: #46
Forbes: #98

Top programmes

Economics
Political Science
History
English
Engineering (dual-degree)
International Studies

Notable alumni

John H. Chafee — U.S. Senator and Secretary of the Navy
Edward Albee — Playwright
Christopher Buckley — Author and political satirist
Jodie Foster — Actor and director
George Will — Political commentator and columnist
Samuel Colt — Industrialist and inventor (pre-founder, but associated)
John H. G. Pell — Businessman and philanthropist

Traditions

Cinco de Mayo Celebration
Winterfest
Trinity College Bantam
Homecoming
Campus-wide scavenger hunts

If Trinity College were…

As a food: Oysters Rockefeller — Old-money New England elegance with a rich, indulgent core, served in a traditional setting that some find refined and others find dated. It's a WASP-y classic that knows exactly what it is.
As an athlete: Cam Newton — Flashy, confident, and polarizing—Trinity's preppy swagger and party reputation draw both admiration and eye-rolls. Like Cam, it's got undeniable talent (strong academics, beautiful campus) but can come off as entitled o
As a person alive today: Tucker Carlson — Trinity alum who embodies the school's preppy, conservative-leaning establishment vibe—articulate, privileged, and unafraid of controversy. Both are institutions that thrive in traditional power structures while drawing
As a historical figure: William F. Buckley Jr. — Intellectual conservative aristocrat who valued tradition, eloquence, and elite networks—exactly the ethos Trinity cultivated for generations as a bastion of New England WASP culture and classical liberal arts education.
As a movie or TV show: The Skulls — Secret societies, old money, gothic architecture, and the sense that who you know matters as much as what you know. Trinity's fraternity culture and insider networks evoke the same exclusive, slightly sinister glamour.
As a US president: George H.W. Bush — Patrician New England establishment through and through—preppy, well-connected, traditional values, and a sense of noblesse oblige mixed with genuine competence. Both represent a fading WASP elite that still commands res
As a city: Greenwich, Connecticut — Wealthy, preppy, traditional, and a little bit stuck in its ways—beautiful on the surface with serious money underneath, but surrounded by urban grit (Hartford/Stamford) that reminds you inequality is real. Old money mee
As an element: Silver — Lustrous, traditional, valuable but not quite gold—Trinity has the polish and prestige of elite liberal arts without cracking the very top tier. Like silver, it's been a standard of wealth and taste for centuries but oxi
As a car: 1988 Jeep Wagoneer Grand Wagoneer — Trinity College is New England prep school polish meets urban Hartford grit—a wood-paneled SUV that screams old money, lacrosse sticks, and a certain WASP-y confidence. It's sporty, traditional, and unapologetically esta

Campus life

Trinity combines a traditional liberal arts experience with an urban setting, offering a mix of campus-focused events and city engagement. Social life includes strong athletics, fraternities, and cultural organizations. The community is active and socially engaged.