University of Connecticut: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes

Storrs, Connecticut · Public · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025

Acceptance rate
54%
55,479 applicants
Avg SAT
1340
Mid 50: 1220–1420
In-state tuition
$20,366
per year, before aid
Net price (avg)
$22,886
after aid, what families pay
Quick answer

University of Connecticut is a public university in Storrs, Connecticut that admits about 54% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $22,886 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Psychology, General, Economics and Finance and Financial Management Services, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 83% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.1 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.

University of Connecticut is a public institution located in Storrs, Connecticut with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, University of Connecticut admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 54%. Admitted students typically post an average SAT of 1338 and an ACT composite around 30. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $22,886 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price. For parents weighing whether University of Connecticut is realistic for their teenager, the most useful planning step is comparing your child's current GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against these admitted-student ranges — not the headline acceptance rate alone.

What GPA does my child need for University of Connecticut?

University of Connecticut admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum. Parents tracking their child's GPA toward this tier of school can use Solyo's free calculator to see weighted, unweighted, and college-recalculated numbers side by side.

Actual GPA distribution of admitted students
From the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Connecticut.

What does University of Connecticut weight in admissions?

University of Connecticut reports the following factor importance in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). These are the criteria the admissions committee weighs when reviewing applications.

Very Important5 factors
  • Rigor of secondary school record
  • Class rank
  • Academic GPA
  • Standardized test scores
  • Application essay
Important6 factors
  • Recommendations
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Talent/ability
  • Character/personal qualities
  • First generation status
  • Volunteer work
Considered3 factors
  • Geographical residence
  • State residency
  • Work experience
Not Considered4 factors
  • Interview
  • Alumni/ae relation
  • Religious affiliation/commitment
  • Level of applicant's interest

SAT and ACT scores University of Connecticut typically admits

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 600–720, with an EBRW midpoint near 655. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33. A score at or above this school's 75th percentile materially improves your child's odds, particularly when paired with a rigorous course load.

SAT Composite
25th percentile1220
50th percentile1340
75th percentile1420
% submitting SAT36%
ACT Composite
25th percentile28
50th percentile31
75th percentile33
% submitting ACT5%
Current testing policy
  • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
  • • Policy detail: Considered if submitted

Where admitted students ranked in their high school class

Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort — often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.

Top 10% of class47.15%
Top 25% of class83.1%
Top 50% of class97.34%
% submitting class rank35.28%

How much does University of Connecticut actually cost?

Published tuition is $20,366 for in-state students and $43,034 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,996 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $22,886 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 24% of students receive Pell Grants, a useful indicator of how much need-based aid the school distributes.

In-state tuition$17,010
Out-of-state tuition$39,678
Room and board$14,776
Average net price (after aid)$22,886
Application fee$80 (waivers available)

Application deadlines and early decision data for University of Connecticut

Regular admission
Regular deadlineJanuary 15
Notification dateMarch 1st
Reply deadlineMay 1st
Rolling admissionsYes
Early admission
Offers Early DecisionYes
ED deadlineNovember 1st

Will my child graduate from University of Connecticut?

Retention and graduation rates are the most overlooked numbers in college planning, but they predict actual outcomes far better than acceptance rate. They tell you whether admitted students stay and finish on time.

Freshman retention
92%
returned for sophomore year
4-year graduation
72.9%
finished on time
6-year graduation
83%
finished within 6 years

Most popular majors at University of Connecticut

The most popular undergraduate programs at University of Connecticut, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Psychology, General, Economics and Finance and Financial Management Services. Across all programs, University of Connecticut confers roughly 2,096 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Psychology, General program report a median income of about $61,059 five years after entering college. Major popularity is a practical signal of where a school concentrates its teaching strength and where your child will find the deepest course offerings and peer community.

MajorGraduates / yearMedian earnings (5 yrs out)
Psychology, General396$61,059
Economics384$80,530
Finance and Financial Management Services253$104,878
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing234$93,828
Communication and Media Studies231$68,876
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services224$83,413
Political Science and Government188$74,491
Biology, General186$71,208
Bachelor's-degree completions from federal IPEDS data; earnings from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Is University of Connecticut safe? Campus crime & safety

In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), University of Connecticut disclosed 42 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.1 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 2 violent offenses and 10 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Per-1,000-student rates matter more than raw counts when comparing schools, because larger universities mechanically report more incidents. Under the federal Clery Act, every college that receives federal aid must publish these numbers annually.

Total offenses
42
2.1 per 1,000 students
Violent crime
2
0.10 per 1,000
Sexual assault / VAWA
10
0.50 per 1,000
Burglary
27
reported incidents
Clery Act disclosures (2024) cover on-campus, noncampus, and adjacent public-property incidents; rates use an enrollment of 19,835 students.

Other colleges in Connecticut parents ask about

How parents track GPA toward selective schools like University of Connecticut

Solyo helps parents track grades pulled directly from school emails, calculate GPA the same way colleges like University of Connecticut recalculate it, and ask an AI college counselor specific questions about their teen's odds. The platform is built for parents — not students — and turns what's usually a fragmented planning process into a single dashboard.

Common questions parents ask about University of Connecticut

What GPA do I need for University of Connecticut?

University of Connecticut admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.

What SAT or ACT score does University of Connecticut typically admit?

The middle-50 SAT Math range is 600–720, with an EBRW midpoint near 655. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 29–33.

How much does University of Connecticut actually cost after financial aid?

The average net price at University of Connecticut after grants and scholarships is $22,886 per year. That figure is more useful for budgeting than the published sticker price, because it reflects what families actually pay after aid is applied.

Is University of Connecticut realistic for my child?

Compare your teen's current unweighted GPA and most recent SAT or ACT against the ranges above. If both numbers fall inside the school's middle-50, University of Connecticut is a target school. If both fall below the 25th-percentile mark, treat it as a reach and balance the application list accordingly.

What is the acceptance rate at University of Connecticut?

University of Connecticut accepts about 54% of applicants out of roughly 55,479 who apply each year. That makes it a moderately selective school.

Is University of Connecticut test-optional?

Yes. University of Connecticut is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.

What is the graduation rate at University of Connecticut?

About 83% of students at University of Connecticut graduate within six years, and 73% finish in four years. 92% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.

What does University of Connecticut look for in applicants?

University of Connecticut rates course rigor, class rank, GPA and test scores as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.

Is University of Connecticut a public or private school, and where is it located?

University of Connecticut is a public institution located in Storrs, Connecticut.

What are the most popular majors at University of Connecticut?

The largest undergraduate majors at University of Connecticut by annual graduates are Psychology, General, Economics and Finance and Financial Management Services. The school awards about 2,096 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.

Is University of Connecticut safe? What is its campus crime rate?

University of Connecticut reported 42 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.1 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.

Data sourced from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Connecticut, the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act campus safety disclosures. Solyo extracts admissions data from official Common Data Set publications and refreshes it annually.