Connecticut College is recognized nationally for our innovative liberal arts education, rigorous academic standards, faculty scholarship and research, commitment to equity, sustainability and service, and preparing our students to be creative thinkers who tackle the world’s most complex problems.
Below are some of the national scholarships, honors, distinctions and rankings that have consistently recognized the excellence of the College, our students and our alumni.
Conn’s commitment to producing graduates who go on to lead lives of meaning and purpose is reflected in this prestigious ranking, which is based on an institution’s “contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research, & promoting public service.”
BEST LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGESConn’s commitment to international education is reflected in the number of Fulbright Scholarships our students receive and our consistent inclusion in this annual list. Our Fulbright Scholars have pursued post-graduate study and research across the world, most recently in Austria, Brazil, Germany, Romania and Spain.
Top Fulbright ProducerAnn Monk ’21 is the College’s first Marshall Scholar, which is one of the most prestigious post-graduate fellowships for American college students. It is awarded to a select group of recipients each year deemed to be “intellectually distinguished young people who will one days become leaders, opinion formers or decision makers.”
Marshall ScholarshipsWe rank liberal arts colleges—four-year institutions that award almost exclusively bachelor’s degrees and that focus on arts and sciences rather than professional programs—based on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research, and promoting public service.
Washington Monthly
Four Conn students have won in the past two years for projects focused on access to language learning among refugees, environmental justice filmmaking, Black women's liberation through art, and endangered languages.
Watson FoundationThanks to the extraordinary dedication and creative thinking of current students, faculty and staff, Conn achieved a rare Gold Rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The honor places Conn in the top 15% of the 1,000-plus institutions currently rated by AASHE, and ahead of other NESCAC peer institutions.
AASHE Gold Star for SustainabilityConn has a tradition of athletic success in NCAA competitions, and Camels are regularly recognized as NCAA individual national champions and as outstanding scholar-athletes by the New England Small College Athletic Conference. The historic win of our men’s soccer team in the 2021 NCAA Division III national championship marked a new level of Camel excellence, followed by the team's 2022 preseason No. 1 national ranking.
NCAA 2021 DIII men's soccer championsWe are thrilled to be named a top Fulbright producer and we are appreciative of the close collaborations across campus that reflect a deep commitment to our students, global education and Conn’s mission of educating students to put the liberal arts into action. This mission has never been more relevant than it is today, and we are proud of the students we send into what is an ever-more-complex world.
Melissa Ryan - Director of the Walter Commons for Global Study and Engagement and International Fellowships
Connections – Connecticut College’s reinvention of liberal arts education – and other inspiring campus initiatives have earned Conn distinction as a Most Innovative School by U.S. News & World Report. This category recognizes institutions of higher education advancing “the most innovative improvements in terms of curriculum, faculty, campus life, technology or facilities.” In addition, Conn is ranked 46th overall among National Liberal Arts Colleges.
Connecticut College RankingsBuilding on Conn’s long-standing commitment to civic engagement and political participation, the Holleran Center for Community Action’s efforts to encourage student participation in the 2020 elections earned a Gold Seal from the nonpartisan ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge.
ALL IN AwardIssued annually, Forbes’ 30 Under 30 features the nation’s most promising young leaders, entrepreneurs, and artists. There are a growing number of Connecticut College 30 under 30 honorees, recognized for their extraordinary work in education, enterprise technology, the media, law and policy, and the energy sector.
Forbes 30 Under 30Conn's 750 acre Arboretum ranks 5th out of the 50 most beautiful college arboretums in the nation. Since its establishment in 1931, the Arboretum has been dedicated to the mission of teaching, research, conservation, recreation and public education.