Milestones at UConn, Across the University

Although the new semester is barely a month old, there’s much happening across the University of Connecticut, as President Radenka Maric highlighted in her latest newsletter to the university community and beyond. 

Noteworthy items from the UConn President included these:

·         Enrollment:  Student interest remains very strong, with more than 26,000 undergraduates enrolled across all campuses — including about 600 who were at risk of leaving but were retained through additional support and outreach. Cost, aid, and academic fit are top priorities for admitted students, not surprisingly, and underscore our commitment to providing a high-quality education that remains accessible and affordable. Most UConn students graduate with no debt or with manageable levels of student loan debt.

·         Research:  Federal research funding has been disrupted here and elsewhere throughout the U.S., but UConn has been particularly fortunate to receive state support to stabilize the enterprise and keep work on track. Despite this challenging landscape, we continue to move forward with transformational research and exploration — notably, our NSF Quantum Technologies Engine in Connecticut, which will position our state and region as a center of innovation in this key area and drive economic growth here and nationwide.

·         Philanthropy:  Fiscal year 2026 was the strongest fundraising year in UConn’s history, with more than $171 million received and particularly notable increases in gifts to support health sciences, UConn Athletics, and UConn Health. To date, almost $934 million has been raised toward the $1.5 billion goal in our Because of UConn campaign, including a record 33 donors giving $1 million or more and six giving $5 million or more. Thanks to this strong philanthropy, UConn was able to double the average amount provided to assist students facing unexpected financial hardship in 2026 compared with 2025.

·         Sustainability:  UConn continues to be a leader in sustainability, ranked the eighth most sustainable university in the world by UI GreenMetric and a Gold Top Performer in the AASHE Stars program.  We have also reduced emissions by more than 21% since 2001 — even though our Storrs campus square footage has expanded 58% — through a combination of new technology, energy conservation strategies, and other practices.

·         Recognition: UConn has been recognized recently in several important rankings for quality and value, including from Time, Money, and U.S. News & World Report magazines. Several of our academic programs are cited for their excellence in the latest rankings, and the Learning Communities program received particular praise. It ranks 10th nationally among all public universities in the U.S., a leap of 15 spots in just the past year.

·         Graduation:  Right now, 91% of first-year UConn students return after their freshman year, and 83% graduate in six years or less. By comparison, about 69% of first-year students nationwide return in their second year to the institution where they started, and about 61% earn their degrees in six years or less.