Capital Community College: An Overview

Capital Community College (CCC), a public community college located in the heart of downtown Hartford, Connecticut, has a rich history and a commitment to providing accessible and diverse educational opportunities. As the only public fully undergraduate institution in the city, Capital plays a vital role in the region's educational landscape.

History and Evolution

Capital's origins trace back to 1967 with the establishment of Greater Hartford Community College. In 1992, a significant transformation occurred when it merged with Hartford State Technical College, resulting in the creation of Capital Community-Technical College. This consolidation was mandated by the state. The institution's name was officially changed to Capital Community College in 2000. As of July 2023, Capital Community College became part of CT State Community College, a merger of 12 individual campuses into one large community college.

Campus and Location

Capital Community College is conveniently located in downtown Hartford in the historic former G. Fox building. The 1,913,000-square-foot building served as the home of the department store until it closed in 1993. Its central location offers students easy access to some of Connecticut’s largest employers, creating potential internship opportunities. Through the Hartford Heritage Project, students can also take advantage of nationally known theaters and museums. The integration of history, the arts, government, and business into the educational experience is facilitated by the college's location, with classes and co-operative education opportunities designed to maximize the advantages of being in the city center.

Academics and Programs

Capital Community College offers over 60 degree and certificate programs. Among these, Capital boasts the largest nursing program and the only theater arts program within CT State. Students can earn degrees and certificates in 39 different fields. Popular programs include Registered Nursing, General Studies, and Social Work. The school utilizes a semester-based academic year. The student-faculty ratio is 12-to-1. The highest degree offered at Capital Community College is an associate degree. The school has an open admissions policy and offers credit for life experiences.

Professor Emeritus Charles Darling created an online instructional guide for his creative writing and literature classes at Capital Community College (CCC) in 1996. Dr. Darling’s Guide to Grammar & Writing rapidly took on a life of its own, mushrooming into a widely popular site as use of the web for personal and educational uses became ubiquitous. Twenty-five years later Charles Darling’s Guide To Grammar & Writing is still going strong as a free resource for teachers, students and anyone trying to get their grammar and written communication right.

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Student Life and Demographics

The total student enrollment is 2,715. A significant portion of the student body consists of part-time students, with 2,179 enrolled part-time. Capital claims to be one of the most ethnically diverse campuses in New England. Sixty-seven percent of students are African American and Latino.

The age distribution of students is as follows:

Under 18: 8%
18-24: 39%
25-64: 52%
Over 65: 1%

Capital Community College provides various campus services to support its students, including:

Employment services
Credit for life experiences
Academic/career counseling
Placement services for completers
On-campus day care for students' children

Affordability and Financial Aid

For the 2020-2021 academic year, in-state tuition and fees were $4,596, while out-of-state tuition and fees were $13,548. The application fee is $20. At Capital Community College, 65 percent of undergraduates receive grant or scholarship aid, and the average scholarship or grant award is $4,403.

The overall average net price of Capital Community College is $9,604.

Rankings and Recognition

According to College Factual's 2025 analysis, Capital Community College is ranked #255 out of 2,152 schools in the nation that were analyzed for overall quality. This puts it in the top 20% of all schools in the nation. This is an improvement over the previous year, when Capital Community College held the #919 spot on the Best Overall Colleges list. Capital Community College is also ranked #7 out of 18 schools in Connecticut. The highest ranked major at the school is allied health professions.

Capital Community College was awarded 28 badges in the 2025 rankings.

Alumni Success

Capital Community College has a strong track record of producing successful alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields. The Alumni Wall of Fame, launched at the 2019 Changing Lives Gala, recognizes distinguished graduates.

The 2021 inductees, who come from the fields of nursing, education and literacy, cybersecurity and insurance, included Carol V. Johnson (71), Stephanie Knutson (’95), Rupesh Parjuli (’11) and Blerina Pina (’12).

Carol V. Johnson (’71), EdD, is director and co-founder of the Hartford-based Center for Urban Education & Training (CURET), a community organization founded in 1991.

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Stephanie Knutson, (’95) RN, EdD is a senior training and technical assistance associate for Education Development Center (EDC).

Rupesh Parajuli (’11) earned the associate’s degree in Computer Information Systems (CIS) from Capital in 2011 going on to earn a B.S. in Industrial Technology Networking and an MBA as he worked at Travelers.

Blerina (Bela) Pina (’12) is a territory manager and contract surety specialist at Nationwide Insurance.

Community Engagement and Initiatives

Capital Community College is actively involved in the Hartford community through various initiatives and partnerships.

The college won a $149,426 two-year grant focusing on the history and people of Hartford’s historic Talcott Street Church and Black School. The Humanities Initiative award, part of Capital’s Hartford Heritage Project, supports place-based learning in Black history for students at the college and Capital Preparatory Magnet School (Capital Prep) in partnership with nearby museums.

An annual lecture on racial justice planned as part of a new exhibit and curriculum project funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) will be supported by the Hartford Heritage Black Studies Fund at Capital Community College.

Online Learning

Online courses are a great option for busy, working students as well as for those who have scheduling conflicts and want to study on their own time. In 2022-2023, 1,604 students took at least one online class at Capital Community College.

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