View source for Central Connecticut State University

{{Short description|Public university in New Britain, Connecticut, US}}
{{Redirect|CCSU|the dissolved trade union in the UK|Council of Civil Service Unions}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Central Connecticut State University
 | image_name             = Central Connecticut State University Seal.svg
 | image_upright          = 0.7
 | established            = {{start date and age|1849}}
 | type                   = [[Public university]]
 | president              = [[Zulma R. Toro]]
 | city                   = [[New Britain, Connecticut|New Britain]]
 | state                  = [[Connecticut]]
 | country                = US
 | endowment              = $80 million (2020)<ref>{{cite web |title=Fundraising and the Endowment |url=https://www.ccsu.edu/presidenttoro/fundraising.html |website=www.ccsu.edu |access-date=25 October 2020}}</ref>
 | enrollment             = 10,039 (Spring 2025)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://docs.ccsu.edu/oira/institutionalData/fastfacts/Fast_Facts_Spring_2025.pdf| title=College Navigator - Central Connecticut State University }}</ref>
 | undergrad              = 8,287(Spring 2025)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://docs.ccsu.edu/oira/institutionalData/fastfacts/Fast_Facts_Spring_2025.pdf | title=College Navigator - Central Connecticut State University }}</ref>
 | postgrad               = 1,752 (Spring 2025)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://docs.ccsu.edu/oira/institutionalData/fastfacts/Fast_Facts_Spring_2025.pdf | title=College Navigator - Central Connecticut State University }}</ref>
 | administrative_staff   = 408 full-time professors<br />481 part-time professors
 | campus                 = Suburban, {{convert|165|acre|mi2|adj=on}}
 | former_names           = State Normal School (1849–1933)<br />Teachers College of Connecticut (1933–1959)<br />Central Connecticut State College (1959–1983)
 | colors                 = {{college color boxes|Central Connecticut Blue Devils}} Blue and white
 | athletics_affiliations = [[NCAA Division I]] – [[Northeast Conference|NEC]]
 | sports_nickname        = [[Central Connecticut Blue Devils|Blue Devils]]
 | mascot                 = Kizer the Blue Devil
 | parent                 = [[Connecticut State Colleges & Universities]]
 | academic_affiliation   = [[National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program|Space-grant]]
 | website                = {{URL|https://ccsu.edu|CCSU}}
 | logo                   = Central Connecticut State University Logo.png
 | logo_upright           = 0.7
}}

'''Central Connecticut State University''' ('''Central Connecticut''', '''CCSU''',<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2115 |title=Central Connecticut Blue Devils |website=ESPN |access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> '''Central Connecticut State''',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/central-connecticut-state-blue-devils-team |title=2018 Central Connecticut State Blue Devils |website=FOX Sports |access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> or informally '''Central''') is a [[public university]] in [[New Britain, Connecticut]]. Founded in 1849 as the State Normal School, CCSU is Connecticut's oldest publicly-funded university. It is made up of four schools: the Ammon College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; the School of Business; the School of Education and Professional Studies; and the School of Engineering, Science, and Technology. As of Spring 2022, the university was attended by 8,898 students: 7,054 undergraduate students and 1,844 graduate students.<ref name="fast facts">{{cite web |title=Headcount Enrollment |url=https://www.ccsu.edu/oira/data/Spring_Historical1.pdf|website=www.ccsu.edu |access-date=21 May 2022}}</ref> More than half of students live off campus and 96 percent are Connecticut residents.<ref name="fast facts"/> The school is part of the [[Connecticut State Colleges & Universities]] system (CSCU), which also oversees [[Eastern Connecticut State University|Eastern]], [[Western Connecticut State University|Western]], and [[Southern Connecticut State University|Southern]] Connecticut State Universities.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ct.edu/files/opr/SpringHeadcount%20v20220405.pdf |title=Connecticut State Colleges & Universities (CSCU) Spring 2022 Headcount Enrollment, Trends, FULL-TIME & PART-TIME |date=Spring 2022 |access-date=May 21, 2022}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Central Connecticut State University view above campus, 10-29-2021.jpg|thumb|View over campus from the west]]
[[File:Vance Academic Center, Central Connecticut State University, 2009-09-15.jpg|thumb|Vance Academic Center]]
Central Connecticut State University was founded in 1849 as the '''State Normal School''' to train teachers.<ref>Muirhead, Images of America Central Connecticut State University, p6</ref> It was the sixth [[normal school]] in the United States and is the oldest public university in Connecticut.<ref>Fowler 1949, p. 22.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/102395/Central-Connecticut-State-University|title=Central Connecticut State University|publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica |year=2013 |access-date=March 11, 2013}}</ref> It ran until 1867 when the school was temporarily closed due to opposition in the [[Connecticut General Assembly]].<ref>Fowler 1949, p. 59.</ref> Two years later, the Normal School resumed its services and continued to do so until the 1930s. In 1933, the Connecticut General Assembly created the '''Teachers College of Connecticut''' and the first bachelor's degrees were granted.<ref>Fowler 1949, p. 84.</ref> In 1922, the campus moved to its current location on Stanley Street. In Fall 2023, the university unveiled its new logo.

The school was again renamed in 1959, becoming the '''Central Connecticut State College'''.<ref>{{cite web |title=CCSU Profile |url=https://www.ccsu.edu/about/profile.html |website=ccsu.edu |publisher=Central Connecticut State University |access-date=23 June 2022}}</ref>

In 1983, the school transitioned from a college to a regional university and thus became '''Central Connecticut State University'''. Organizational governance changed in 2011 when the Connecticut Department of Higher Education was dissolved and replaced by the Office of Higher Education and the [[Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_185.htm#sec_10a-1a|title=Chapter 185 - Board of Regents for Higher Education}}</ref>

==Facilities==
Facilities<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=4191|title=Cenral Connecticut State University Campus Map|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217033211/http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=4191|archive-date=2013-02-17}}</ref> include 10 academic halls, the Student Center, the Burritt Library,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://library.ccsu.edu|title=Elihu Burritt Library - Central Connecticut State University}}</ref> and numerous laboratories. Computer labs are available throughout campus, the largest of which is located in Marcus White Hall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=1725|title=Marcus White Student Technology Center|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192028/http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=1725|archive-date=2014-01-02}}</ref> Dining facilities are located in Memorial Hall, Hilltop Dining Center, and the Student Center. Additional computers and laboratories are spread across all of the academic halls. Welte Hall, Maloney Hall, and the Student Center function as large gathering areas for events, music performances, and theater productions. Welte contains the main auditorium, and Kaiser Hall houses the main gymnasium, and houses an Olympic-size pool. Fitness classes are freely available to students in Memorial Hall, and fitness equipment is provided in four locations across campus through RECentral.<ref name="ccsu.edu">{{cite web|url=http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=14693|title=RECentral|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102193822/http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=14693|archive-date=2014-01-02}}</ref>

Administrative offices, including Admissions, the Registrar, and Financial Aid are located in Davidson Hall. New building projects have expanded liberal arts classroom space and made significant upgrades to all sports facilities.

===Residence halls and commuters===
Residence halls can accommodate up to 2,500 students in ten residence halls in two quads, which are split between the north and south ends of campus.

===Recent projects===
A new eight-story residence hall (Mid Campus Residence Hall) opened for occupancy in the Fall of 2015. The $82 million dorm features "suite" style rooms, in addition to a 2,000 square foot fitness facility, a kitchen on each floor, and a server kitchen and main lounge with a fireplace on the main floor. The Office of Residence Life is located on the first floor of the new facility.

By 2015, a new $37-million Social Sciences Hall, 4,300-square-foot Bichum Engineering Laboratory, and 12,500-square-foot Campus Police Station opened.<ref>{{cite web |title=Timeline |url=https://www.ccsu.edu/175-anniversary/timeline |website=ccsu.edu |publisher=Central Connecticut State University |access-date=11 February 2025}}</ref> In 2011, the first floor of the Elihu Burritt Library was renovated to create a new common area with seating, couches, computers, and food vendors. [[Arute Field]] and its adjacent practice and baseball fields also underwent extensive construction and renovation from 2010 through the present, including new football, soccer, track, and practice field turf. New football, track, and soccer stadium seating were added, as well as construction on the Balf–Savin baseball field.

==Academics==
There are over 400 full-time faculty, 83% of whom possess the terminal degree in their field.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://public.tableau.com/profile/connecticut.state.colleges.and.universities.office.of.research.a#!/vizhome/CSUSASRFaculty2/Data |title=CSU Semi-Annual Statistical Report: Faculty by Degree |date=Fall 2017 |access-date=November 28, 2018}}</ref> Another 501 part-time instructors also teach at the university.<ref name="fast facts"/>

===Rankings===
{{Infobox US university ranking
| USNWR_REG = 66 (tied) out of 171
}}
[[File:CCSU Elihu Burritt Library, 10-29-2021.jpg|thumb|Elihu Burritt Library]]
In 2025, ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' ranked Central Connecticut State University tied for No.66 in Regional Universities North, tied for No.24 in Top Public Schools, No.50 in Best Value Schools, tied for No.190 in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs at schools where a doctorate is not offered, tied for No.392 in Nursing, Nos.293-318 in Economics, tied for No.29 in Best Colleges for Veterans, 132 in Top Performers on Social Mobility.<ref>{{cite web |title= Central Connecticut State University Rankings|url= https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/central-connecticut-state-university-1378/overall-rankings  |website=usnews.com |publisher=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |access-date=10 February 2025}}</ref>

===Undergraduate admissions===
[[File:Copernicus Hall.jpg|thumb|Copernicus Hall]]
In 2024, Central Connecticut State University accepted 76.7% of undergraduate applicants, with admission standards considered very easy, applicant competition considered very low, and with those enrolled having an average 3.2 high school [[Academic grading in the United States#Grade conversion|GPA]]. The university does not require submission of standardized test scores, but they will be considered when submitted. Those enrolled that submitted test scores had an average 1050 [[SAT]] score (53% submitting scores) or an average 21 [[ACT (test)|ACT]] score (1% submitting scores).<ref>{{cite web |title= CCSU Admission Requirements
 |url= https://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/connecticut/central-connecticut-state-university/admission/|website=collegesimply.com |publisher=CollegeSimply {{!}} U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics |access-date=10 February 2025}}</ref>

===Graduate programs===
Graduate programs are in all of the academic schools. These include programs in accountancy, education, literature, international studies, engineering technology, and information technology. A number of doctoral degrees are also offered.<ref name="fast facts"/>

==Student life==
[[File:Central Connecticut State University Student Center, 2009-09-15.jpg|thumb|Student Center]]
{| class="wikitable floatright sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"
|+ style="font-size:90%" |Undergraduate demographics as of Fall 2023<ref>{{cite web |title= College Scorecard: Central Connecticut State University|url=https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?128771-Central-Connecticut-State-University|website=College Scorecard |publisher=[[United States Department of Education]] |access-date=July 15, 2025 }}</ref>
|-
! Race and ethnicity
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic whites|White]]
|align=right| {{bartable|54|%|2||background:cyan}}
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic]]
|align=right| {{bartable|20|%|2||background:green}}
|-
| [[African Americans|Black]]
|align=right| {{bartable|13|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]]
|align=right| {{bartable|5|%|2||background:orange}}
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races]]
|align=right| {{bartable|3|%|2||background:violet}}
|-
| [[International student]]
|align=right| {{bartable|2|%|2||background:#008080}}
|-
| Unknown
|align=right| {{bartable|2|%|2||background:grey}} 
|-
! colspan="4" data-sort-type=number |[[Economic diversity]]
|-
| [[American lower class|Low-income]]{{efn|The percentage of students who received an income-based federal [[Pell grant]] intended for low-income students.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|36|%|2||background:red}}
|-
| [[Affluence in the United States|Affluent]]{{efn|The percentage of students who are a part of the [[American middle class]] at the bare minimum.}}
|align=right| {{bartable|64|%|2||background:black}}
|}

==Athletics==
{{main|Central Connecticut Blue Devils}}

The university's athletic teams are known as the Blue Devils. Their mascot was originally named Victor E, but was changed to Kizer in 2011 after unveiling a new logo. Central Connecticut State participates in [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] at the [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]] ([[Football Championship Subdivision]] football) level as a member of the [[Northeast Conference]]. The university fields 18 varsity sports, eight men's sports: [[College baseball|baseball]], [[College basketball|basketball]], [[cross country running|cross country]], [[College football|football]], [[golf]], [[College soccer in the United States|soccer]], as well as indoor and outdoor [[track & field]]; and ten women's sports: [[Women's college basketball|basketball]], cross country, golf, [[College lacrosse|lacrosse]], soccer, [[College softball|softball]], [[swimming (sport)|swimming]], indoor and outdoor track & field, and [[volleyball]].

==Notable alumni==<!-- PLEASE RESPECT ALPHABETICAL ORDER -->
{{more citations needed|date=November 2018}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}

===Athletes and coaches===
* [[Steve Addazio]] &ndash; college football coach
* [[Al Bagnoli]] &ndash; college football coach
* [[Ricky Bottalico]] &ndash; professional baseball player and sports journalist
* [[Dave Campo]] &ndash; professional football coach
* [[Joe Costello (American football)|Joe Costello]] &ndash; professional football player<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CostJo20.htm|title = Joe Costello Stats| website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] }}</ref>
* [[Ryan Costello (baseball)|Ryan Costello]] &ndash; professional baseball player<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=costel002rya| title=Ryan Costello College, Amateur & Minor Leagues Statistics & History }}</ref>
* [[Jake Dolegala]] &ndash; professional football player
* [[Justise Hairston]] &ndash; professional football player
* [[John Hirschbeck]] &ndash; Major League Baseball umpire
* [[Skip Jutze]] &ndash; professional baseball player
* [[Scott Pioli]] &ndash; NFL Executive;  3× PFWA Executive of the Year (2003, 2007, 2010)
* [[Rich Ranglin]] &ndash; professional football player
* [[Evan Scribner]] &ndash; professional baseball player
* [[Mike Sherman]] &ndash; college and professional football coach
* [[John Skladany]] &ndash; college football coach
* [[Bob Winn]] &ndash; distance runner
* [[Bob Zuffelato]] &ndash; professional basketball coach

===Entertainers===
* [[William Berloni]] &ndash; animal behaviorist known for training of animals for stage, film, and television
* [[Erin Brady]] &ndash; [[Miss Connecticut USA]] 2013, [[Miss USA 2013]]
* [[Richard Grieco]] &ndash; actor, ''[[21 Jump Street]]'', ''[[Booker (TV series)|Booker]]''
* [[Kenny Johnson]] &ndash; actor, ''[[The Shield]]'', ''[[Sons of Anarchy]]''
* [[Jomboy (baseball)|Jimmy "Jomboy" O'Brien]] &ndash; sports media personality and podcaster <ref> {{citeweb|title= Former Central Connecticut State University students make their passion for sports into media company  |url=https://www.wtnh.com/sports/former-central-connecticut-state-university-students-made-their-passion-for-sports-into-a-media-company/amp/ |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Colleen Ward]] &ndash; Miss Connecticut 2015, contestant in 2015 [[Miss America]] pageant<ref>{{cite web|author=Posted 10:20 AM, June 28, 2015, by Marcus Harun |url=http://foxct.com/2015/06/28/wolcotts-colleen-ward-selected-as-miss-connecticut/ |title=Wolcott's Colleen Ward selected as Miss Connecticut &#124; FOX 61 |publisher=Foxct.com |date=2015-06-28 |access-date=2016-03-16}}</ref>

===Public servants===
* [[Ebenezer D. Bassett]] &ndash; first U.S. African-American [[ambassador]] (to [[Haiti]]), appointed by President [[Ulysses S. Grant]] in 1869
* [[Miguel Cardona]] &ndash; [[Connecticut State Department of Education|Education Commissioner of Connecticut]] (2019–2021); [[United States Secretary of Education]] (2021–2025)
* [[Walter Eli Clark]] &ndash; last Governor of the [[District of Alaska]] and first Governor of the [[Alaska Territory]], appointed by President [[William Howard Taft]] on May 18, 1909
* [[Carmen E. Espinosa]] &ndash; Justice of Connecticut Supreme Court, (2013–2021)
* [[Vincent Fort]] &ndash; member of the [[Georgia State Senate]] (1996–2017)
* [[Joshua M. Hall|Joshua Hall]] &ndash; Connecticut State Representative
* [[Bruce Hyer]] &ndash; Member of Canadian Parliament (2008–2015)
* [[Michael J. Ingelido]] &ndash; WWII fighter pilot, Distinguished Service Cross recipient, Air Force Major General (1960s)
* [[John Larson]] &ndash; [[U.S. Representative|Congressman]] (D-CT) (1999–present); former [[Connecticut Senate]] President
* [[Frances P. Mainella]] &ndash; 16th Director (2001–2006) of [[National Park Service]]
* [[Francis M. Mullen]] &ndash; head of U.S. [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] (1981–1985)
* [[Maria L. Sanford]] &ndash; educator (1870), has statue in Capitol's [[National Statuary Hall Collection]] for the state of [[Minnesota]]; namesake of Liberty ship, launched in 1943, SS ''Maria Sanford''
* [[Erin Stewart]] &ndash; Mayor of [[New Britain, Connecticut|New Britain]] (2013–present)

===Other===
* [[Justice Ofei Akrofi]] – Archbishop, Church of the Province of West Africa
* [[Frederic Beecher Perkins]] – editor, librarian and writer
* [[C.J. Stevens]] - Author of over 30 books
* [[Theodore Stowell]] – president of [[Bryant University]], 1878–1916
* [[Eliza Talcott]] – missionary to Japan and founder of [[Kobe College]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Talcott, Eliza (1836-1911), missionary to Japan|url=https://www.anb.org/view/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.001.0001/anb-9780198606697-e-0801499|access-date=2021-03-13|website=American National Biography|year=2000|language=en|doi=10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.0801499|last1=Fukada|first1=Robert Mikio|isbn=978-0-19-860669-7}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*The [[University of Connecticut]] is the largest public university in the state.
*Details regarding [[Commencement at Central Connecticut State University]].

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
*Herbert E. Fowler, ''A Century of Teacher Education in Connecticut'', New Britain CT: Teachers College of Connecticut, 1949.

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.ccsu.edu/}}
* [http://www.ccsubluedevils.com/ Blue Devils Athletics]

{{Central Connecticut State University}}
{{CSUS}}
{{CCSU Blue Devils}}
{{Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities}}
{{Northeast Conference navbox}}
{{New Britain, Connecticut}}
{{Public colleges and universities in Connecticut}}
{{Colleges and universities in Hartford County}}

{{Coord|41.693|-72.765|type:edu_region:US-CT|display=title}}

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[[Category:Central Connecticut State University| ]]
[[Category:Public universities and colleges in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges established in 1849]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in New Britain, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Astronomical observatories in Connecticut|Copernican]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Hartford County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:1849 establishments in Connecticut]]