Southern Connecticut State University

• Location: New Haven, Connecticut, USA,
• Year of foundation: 1893,
• Number of students: about 9300,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of studying: mixed.

Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU or Southern) is a multi—award-winning public university with an extensive network of collaborations and a long history. Several hundred bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees are offered here.

In 1893, New Haven State Normal School was founded, offering two-year teacher preparation programs. By 1937, it had received a new status, becoming a university, thanks to which students received four-year bachelor's degrees. It was not until March 1983 that the institution received its now famous name and became part of the Connecticut university system. With more than 130 years of history, SCSU still carefully preserves its established traditions and strives to meet modern trends in education.

The university has many distinctive features that annually attract hundreds of first-year students to the campus. The SCSU student community consists of more than 9300 future bachelors, masters and doctors of sciences, some of whom came from more than 40 countries. The multinational student community is in a caring, supportive and comfortable environment created by highly qualified teaching staff — about 400 full-time teachers work here, 93% of whom have a doctorate in their field of study. Administrative staff provide comprehensive assistance to students in any issues that arise, whether it's finding off-campus housing, adapting the curriculum, or providing additional opportunities to gain new knowledge and work experience.

Southern Connecticut State University is the only public university participating in the NCAA Division II Northeast-10. However, SCSU is famous not only for sports teams, but also for a wide range of extracurricular activities available to students to develop their talents, find strengths, and have fun.

Valentina Nikitina

Senior Marketing and Recruitment Manager at Kaplan Pathways with a focus on students from Russia and the CIS.

What factors are considered when evaluating U.S. universities, and how reliable are current rankings?

That's an interesting topic. The criteria used to evaluate universities vary by ranking. For nationwide rankings, factors like class size, teacher salaries, and the number of faculty members with advanced degrees in their field are common considerations. If a ranking focuses on student satisfaction, the criteria will differ. However, rankings don't always align with individual student needs and should be considered alongside other factors.

Administrative centers provide comprehensive support to all students: from additional subject classes, participation in serious scientific activities to adapting the curriculum to their needs, mentoring, and psychological assistance. Highly qualified employees will help students not only within the university, but also send them to the necessary organizations outside it to provide the student with all the necessary conditions for obtaining knowledge.

The educational institution has specialized schools:

• Arts, Sciences,
• Education
• Healthcare, social services,
• Business.

The University has nine residential complexes, which house undergraduate and postgraduate students, and some teachers.

• Brownell Hall Complex offers accommodation in four- or six-bed suites, including double bedrooms. Each suite has a bathroom, a living room and a storage room for common use by the residents of the room, some have a kitchen. Students have access to an entertainment area with video games, a TV, a shared kitchen on one of the floors, and a laundry room.,
• The traditional residences Wilkinson Hall, Chase Hall, Farnham Hall, Hickerson Hall, and Neff Hall are located near academic buildings, offering students accommodation in single and double rooms with shared bathrooms, kitchens, recreation areas, and laundries. All living areas are fully furnished, have air conditioning and high-speed Wi-Fi connection.,
• The North Campus residential complex includes both a large Midrise building and separate townhouses. Students live in four-bed rooms with a kitchen and a bathroom. A quiet learning area, the North Campus computer lab are located on the ground floor of Midrise, and laundry rooms are located on each floor.,
• Schwartz Hall offers accommodation for high school students in two-, three- or five-bed apartments. All apartments are furnished and have a fully equipped kitchen, there is a public lounge and a laundry room on the ground floor of the building.,
• The West Campus Residence Complex offers four-room suites, standard double rooms with shared bathrooms. Residents have access to study rooms, a computer lab, a video game room, a large laundry room and a kitchen on the ground floor, and recreation facilities.

The price includes utilities, Internet connection, cable TV, access to common areas.

Depending on the type of accommodation chosen, students will need to purchase a meal plan: students living in apartments with a kitchen will need a meal plan for the semester, and if there is no kitchen in the room, a full meal plan for the year. Meal plans represent a certain number of meals at campus establishments + additional bonuses to receive discounts on purchases at university stores. There are more than seven restaurants and cafeterias on the school grounds, which provide students with a varied menu of international and national cuisines. Students with special nutritional needs can request an alternative plan, prepared under the supervision of qualified chefs, nutritionists, and medical professionals.

All students lead an active lifestyle, engage in various sports, creativity, extracurricular thematic activities and volunteering. Excellent conditions have been created on the campus for creative development and improvement, more than 125 interest clubs, amateur and more professional sports sections are available.

Sports are presented at two levels of abilities: more professional ones divide girls and boys into different teams, represent regular training and participation in interuniversity competitions, and amateur ones help maintain physical activity, a healthy lifestyle, make friends and have fun. In the list of professional sports are:

• Rugby,
• Football,
• Lacrosse,
• Golf,
• Frisbee,
• Volleyball,
• Esports.

Groups of dancing and cheerleading clubs accompany the national teams of athletes at all competitions, maintaining the spirit and creating a festive atmosphere. The following areas are represented at the amateur level:

• Basketball,
• Flag football,
• Volleyball,
• Softball,
• Kickball,
• Badminton,
• Pinkleball and others.

Training sessions are held once or twice a week during after-hours, and competitions are held several times a semester between SCSU teams and solo athletes. Themed clubs are groups of students united by a single goal, interest, or hobby. Students can discover new talents, take care of the environment, study academic subjects in depth, immerse themselves in visual or performing arts — these and other development opportunities open up with participation in communities.:

• American Sign Language,
• Anime,
• Asian culture,
• Botany,
• Literature, poetry,
• Career, professional development,
• Chemistry,
• Computer Science,
• Mass media, journalism,
• Photo,
• French language,
• The Christian Brotherhood,
• Meditation,
• Playing musical instruments,
• Solo and collective performance.

Many members of themed clubs participate in campus events: concerts, theater productions, scientific seminars, conferences, fundraisers, and others. An active student life will help a student discover new talents, develop existing skills, acquire like-minded people and expand career opportunities in the future.

• One of the leading educational institutions according to US News & World Report 2025 in such categories as "The best regional universities of the North","The best public schools", "The best schools with value for money",
• One of the most environmentally responsible universities in the USA and Canada according to the Princeton Review,
• Accreditation by the New England Higher Education Commission and relevant associations.
• The student—teacher ratio is 11:1, allowing students to receive individual academic support.,
• Multinational student community with representatives from more than 40 countries,
• High percentage of graduates' employment,
• International and national cooperation with universities, commercial organizations based on knowledge exchange, internships,
• Extensive extracurricular development opportunities, including a strong athletic achievement program.

The SCSU campus occupies 168 acres of land bordering the city of Hamden, and is divided by Fitch Street into academic and residential areas. In the recent past, the academic site has undergone a large-scale reconstruction and re-equipment in order to provide modern conditions for obtaining knowledge and skills.:

• Classrooms for lessons, lecture halls,
• Scientific and technical specialized laboratories,
• Multimedia equipment, the latest computers in specialized halls,
• Administrative buildings with offices that provide assistance on many student issues,
• Library center with book storage, reading rooms, access to electronic databases,
• Computer labs with the latest equipment,
• Own theater with an event hall, rehearsal and make-up areas, technical rooms,
• Music and creative studios with specialized materials and equipment,
• A student center with classes for gathering themed clubs,
• Sports centers, including fitness and gaming halls, swimming pools,
• Outdoor playgrounds, a stadium for team sports.

There are also nine residences on the campus, about seven catering outlets, a Wellness and Health Center, and more.

The academic year is divided into two semesters:

• Autumn: August-December,
• Spring: January-May.

Seasonal vacations and session weeks are organized between semesters. Rest is provided on national and international holidays, weekends. Classes are held on weekdays: from Monday to Friday.

Additional fees include:

• Registration fee, deposits,
• Accommodation, meal plan,
• Some extracurricular activities, contributions to student communities,
• Individual materials for specialized studying,
• Personal support not included in the curriculum,
• External exams,
• Compulsory medical insurance,
• Personal pocket expenses.

Candidates will have to go through several registration stages, some of which are available online, which makes it easier for international applicants to enter. The Admissions Committee supports all applicants by providing assistance at every stage, including obtaining visa and medical documents.

• Submission of the application, required documents,
• Payment of the registration fee,
• Passing entrance exams, interviews,
• Receiving an official invitation to enroll,
• Making deposits to book a place in the program, in the residence,
• Arrive on campus to begin your studies.

Annual graduate statistics confirm the high quality of knowledge they receive at SCSU – 87% of students find a job within six months of completing their studies.

Foreign applicants wishing to obtain a degree at SCSU must provide:

• A package of personal documents, including a valid passport, medical insurance, visa or residence permit,
• Academic certificates: certificate of full secondary education and certificate of preparatory course/Bachelor's degree/Master's degree,
• Assessment reports, official transcripts,
• Language test results: IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic or other university-recognized test. The level of English language proficiency must be at least B2,
• Letters of recommendation, portfolios, resumes as needed.

Four types of financial support are available to SCSU students:

• Scholarships are assigned on behalf of the university, specialized schools, partner organizations on the basis of academic success, active extracurricular activities and do not require repayment. The scholarship can be extended if high results are maintained,
• Loans are federal support, which is a loan of a certain amount at interest with a reckoning time of repayment,
• Grants are merit-based financial assistance to outstanding students. Grants can be refundable and non-refundable depending on the organization that assigns it,
• The federal program "Work-Study" gives students the opportunity to earn money during their studies, thereby reducing the level of basic and additional costs.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision