University of Connecticut
Connecticut's flagship land-grant university, with a residential main campus in Storrs and a record 12 NCAA women's basketball titles.
- Acceptance rate
- 54%
- First-years who entered Storrs in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set)
- Students
- 34,424
- 26,191 undergraduates
- Student–faculty
- 17:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- $44,242
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1881
About UConn
UConn was founded in 1881 as the Storrs Agricultural School, named for brothers Charles and Augustus Storrs, who donated the land. It became a public land-grant college in 1893 and took its current name in 1939. Today it enrolls 34,424 students (fall 2025): 21,042 undergraduates at the main campus in Storrs, 5,149 at four regional campuses (Avery Point, Hartford, Stamford and Waterbury), and 8,233 graduate and professional students, including at UConn Health in Farmington.
Its 14 schools and colleges range from Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, Business, Engineering and Liberal Arts and Sciences to the Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing, Pharmacy, Law, Medicine and Dental Medicine, with 128 undergraduate majors. About 550 students a year join the highly selective Honors Program, and 49% of the fall 2025 entering class at Storrs were in the top 10% of their high school class.
UConn is test-optional and admitted 32,369 of 59,553 first-year applicants for fall 2025, and 92% of Storrs first-years return for a second year. It suits students who want a residential, college-town campus with big-time Big East sports, including the most successful women's basketball program in the country, within reach of Boston and New York.
Robur
“Strength (literally, Oak)” — university motto
Why students choose UConn
U.S. News 2027 ranks UConn 32nd among U.S. public universities, and 84% of Storrs students graduate within six years (average time to degree 4.1 years).
About 550 students a year enter the Honors Program, and everyone who applies by December 1 is considered for merit scholarships and Honors.
The women's basketball team has won a record 12 NCAA Division I national championships, and the Huskies have won 25 NCAA team titles across all sports.
Special programs let high school seniors apply for combined paths into Medicine, Dental Medicine and Law by November 1.
Admissions
First-years who entered Storrs in fall 2025 (2025-26 Common Data Set)
About 1 in 2 applicants is admitted
32,369 admitted from 59,553 applicants
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.
Admit rates by residency for fall 2025: about 41% for Connecticut residents (6,337 of 15,633), 59% for out-of-state applicants (22,349 of 38,178) and 64% for international applicants (3,683 of 5,742).
Typical entry requirements
| U.S. high school units | At least 16 units, 15 college preparatory: 4 English, 3 math, 2 social science or history, 2 of a single foreign language (3 strongly recommended), 2 laboratory science and 3 electives. Nursing requires chemistry and biology; engineering requires chemistry or physics. |
|---|---|
| International secondary school | Completion of secondary school (equivalent to U.S. grades 9-12) with eligibility for university entry at home; college-preparatory English, mathematics, physical science and social science; engineering applicants need physics and chemistry |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79 Minimums: TOEFL 4.5 on the new scale (79 out of 120), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110, PTE Academic 60 or LanguageCert Academic 70. Waivers include SAT reading and writing 510+, ACT 24 on English, Reading and Composite, or IB Higher Level English 5+. |
Deadlines
- Early Decision Binding Next deadline · In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Binding; notifications begin mid-December. Complete the FAFSA by November 1 to get an aid offer in mid-December.
- Special Programs in Medicine, Dental Medicine and Law Non-binding In 26 daysNovember 1, 2026
Apply Early Decision or Regular Decision; decisions begin early March.
- Priority deadline for merit and Honors consideration Non-binding In 56 daysDecember 1, 2026
Decisions begin early March.
- Regular Decision (Storrs campus) Non-binding In ~3 monthsJanuary 15, 2027
Decisions begin early March; enrollment fee due May 1. Regional campuses accept applications until May 1, 2027 on a rolling basis.
Dates are from UConn's 'Applying for Fall 2027' deadlines page. The FAFSA deadline for financial aid eligibility is February 15, 2027.
How to apply
Common Application or Coalition Application ($80 fee); a personal essay of 250-650 words is required; two letters of recommendation are optional but preferred; official transcripts; SAT or ACT optional. Fine Arts majors submit portfolios or auditions via SlideRoom.
What admissions looks for
- Academic performance and strength of coursework, with UConn recalculating your GPA to weight AP, IB and honors classes in core subjects.
- Involvement and leadership qualities, weighed in a holistic review of academic and personal information.
- A personal essay that adds a unique voice and shows writing ability.
- Completion of the required college-preparatory units, including two years of a single foreign language.
Tips for applying to UConn
- 1 Apply by December 1 to be considered for merit scholarships and the Honors Program.
- 2 Early Decision on November 1 is binding, so only use it if UConn is your clear first choice.
- 3 Only submit test scores if they strengthen your application: Storrs admits who sent scores had a middle-50% SAT of 1320-1460.
- 4 Send the optional recommendations anyway: UConn says they are preferred and can show your character.
What are your chances?
Sign up to see your personalized admission chances for University of Connecticut
Sign up to see your chancesCosts & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in USD
UConn provided $733.7 million in financial aid in fiscal 2025, and nearly 26,400 students received aid packages; 43.7% of tuition dollars go to scholarships and grants. All applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships, with December 1 as the priority deadline. Students from other New England states may qualify for reduced tuition through the New England Regional Student Program.
- $44,230 in-state; $67,108 out-of-state
- Estimated cost of attendance 2026-27, Storrs
- 62.9% (average aid package $22,502, CDS 2025-26)
- Average need met, full-time undergraduates with need
- $733.7 million; nearly 26,400 students received packages
- Financial aid provided, fiscal 2025
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Nursing (Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing)
Ranked 36th in U.S. News 2027 undergraduate nursing; applicants need high school chemistry and biology.
Special Program in Medicine and Dental Medicine
High school seniors can apply by November 1 for a combined undergraduate path linked to UConn's medical and dental schools.
Engineering
Some UConn engineering graduates start on more than $80,000 a year, according to the university's first destination survey.
Honors Program
About 550 first-years a year join this highly selective program, with automatic consideration for applicants who meet the December 1 priority deadline.
Acting and Art (School of Fine Arts)
Admission includes an audition or portfolio through SlideRoom; the campus also houses the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry.
Research
- UConn attracted $314.1 million in external sponsored awards in fiscal 2025, 78% from federal sources.
- UConn was the second U.S. university invited into Universitas 21, an international network of research-intensive universities.
- UConn Health in Farmington includes the Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine and the John Dempsey Hospital.
Schools & faculties
- College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources
- School of Business
- School of Dental Medicine
- Neag School of Education
- College of Engineering
- School of Fine Arts
- The Graduate School
- School of Law
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- School of Medicine
- Elisabeth DeLuca School of Nursing
- School of Pharmacy
Graduates from December 2024 and May 2025 reported an average starting salary of $67,500 (UConn First Destination report). College Scorecard: median earnings of $73,997 ten years after entry (and $63,322 six years after entry).
Student life
Storrs is a residential campus: UConn houses about 14,000 students in 107 residence halls, and 96% of first-years live on campus. Sport is central to campus life. The Huskies play in the Big East Conference, the women's basketball team has a record 12 NCAA Division I titles including four in a row from 2013 to 2016, and the men have also won multiple national championships. The mascot, Jonathan the Husky, is both a costumed character and a real Siberian Husky, named in 1935 after Connecticut governor Jonathan Trumbull.
- Big East Conference athletics, with 25 NCAA team championships across all sports
- Jonathan the Husky, the live and costumed mascot since the 1930s
- About 14,000 students in 107 residence halls
- Learning communities program ranked 24th nationally by U.S. News
Housing. 96% of first-years and 64% of all Storrs undergraduates live in university housing (CDS 2025-26).
Location
Storrs is a village in the town of Mansfield in eastern Connecticut, and it is dominated economically and demographically by UConn's main campus and the Connecticut Repertory Theatre. UConn points out that six major cities are within 400 miles, including Hartford, Providence, Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. The regional campuses in Stamford and Hartford offer a city setting, with on-campus housing.
Nearest airport: Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Notable alumni
- DT Diana TaurasiWNBA star who led UConn to three straight national titles; UConn graduate
- SB Sue BirdFour-time WNBA champion and five-time Olympic gold medallist; two NCAA titles with UConn
- RA Ray AllenHall of Fame NBA player; bachelor's degree in general studies, 2023
- WL Wally LambNovelist, author of She's Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True; UConn education degrees
- BA Bobbie Ann MasonNovelist and short-story writer; PhD from UConn
- MR Meg RyanActress; studied journalism at UConn before transferring to NYU
Frequently asked questions
What is UConn's acceptance rate?
UConn admitted 32,369 of 59,553 first-year applicants to Storrs for fall 2025, about 54%. The rate was about 41% for Connecticut residents.
Is UConn test-optional?
Yes. UConn is test-optional for the foreseeable future, and scores are not needed for merit scholarships or the Honors Program.
Does UConn have Early Decision?
Yes. For fall 2027 UConn offers binding Early Decision with a November 1, 2026 deadline. The merit and Honors priority deadline is December 1, and the Storrs regular deadline is January 15, 2027.
How much does UConn cost for out-of-state students?
For 2026-27, out-of-state tuition and fees at Storrs are $44,242, and the estimated total cost of attendance is $67,108. In-state students pay $21,574 in tuition and fees.
What English test score does UConn require?
UConn requires a minimum TOEFL of 79 (4.5 on the new scale), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110 or PTE 60 for non-native English speakers.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- UConn Common Data Set 2025-26
- UConn Fact Sheet 2026
- UConn Today: Rankings show UConn growing in global visibility (September 2026)
- UConn Today: UConn Nursing rises to No. 36 in U.S. News undergraduate rankings
- UConn Admissions: First-Year Applicants
- UConn Admissions: First-Year Dates and Deadlines (fall 2027)
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