Is Trinity College’s tuition-free pledge for Hartford students a smart enrollment strategy?

Trinity College announced last week that it will cover full tuition, housing and meals for admitted students who live in Hartford, a package worth about $93,000 a year at current rates.

The college is also offering half-tuition grants to students from six of Connecticut’s eight counties and funding both programs out of its existing financial aid budget rather than new money.

At a time when small liberal arts colleges are competing hard for a shrinking pool of applicants, Trinity is betting that deep local discounts will fill seats.