Trinity College welcomed 506 new students last week at the President’s Convocation and Matriculation. The reach of the Class of 2029 is global, with 47 international students—including Trinity’s first student from Tajikistan—making up about 10 percent of the cohort. There are 36 countries represented in the Class of 2029 alone, and nearly 85 countries represented in the student body overall.
Trinity received 7,488 applications from more than 140 different countries this year, with the Class of 2029 reflecting a 29-percent acceptance rate. The number continues to increase the College’s three-year applications average.
“The 482 Bantams of Trinity ’29, our 23 distinguished transfer additions, and our one new Individualized Degree Program scholar now gift Trinity with a compelling blend of experiences and perspectives,” Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Matthew Hyde said.
“International students add such amazing dimension to our class,” Hyde said. “They are drawn to Trinity because of how well supported they are here, and because we have a really healthy and diverse international population.”
Twenty-two new students followed a family member to Trinity, while 76 members of the Class of 2029 report that they will become the first members of their families to earn a four-year college degree, Hyde said. These first-generation college students account for about 16 percent of the class.
First-year students are bringing their academic success and their athletics talents to Trinity. Among the Class of 2029 are 158 students who were awarded a merit-based scholarship, including 11 who received a full-tuition Presidential Scholarship. There are also 10 Posse Scholars and 11 United World College Scholars. A total of 174 members of the Class of 2029 were recruited to represent the Bantams on athletic teams.
Of the nearly 7,500 students in this year’s applicant pool, 59 percent applied for financial aid. Hyde said that 78 percent of the members of Trinity’s Class of 2029 received a financial aid award from the College.
Hyde added that there is much more to the Class of 2029 than numbers. “The strength of a class really rests in the humanity in it,” he said. “This class really delivers on talent and dimension. Each and every one of these students has a compelling story. I can’t wait to see how they swirl together on campus. They have so much to look forward to here at Trinity.”
October is always a busy time of year, marked annually by Fall Weekend—which this year included the first Bantam Fall Fest. Academics and athletics intertwined with special events to welcome alumni speakers and the Hartford community to campus this month.
Trinity College has begun the process of building a new strategic plan, Trinity 2040, and is seeking input from members of the Trinity community. The plan’s workstreams are focused on the Arts and STEM, the Learner Lifecycle, and the Neighborhood.
“Through my time in club meetings and traveling with the team, I was able to form a real sense of community and long-lasting friendships,” says Cate Griffin ’27, who encourages all students to discover their place at Trinity.
Paintings by Visiting Assistant Professor of Fine Arts Jenny Wu are part of a two-person exhibition at the Windsor Art Center in Windsor, Connecticut, from November 14, 2026, through January 2, 2027.
