The University of Connecticut is a research powerhouse and public land-grant university in Storrs, Connecticut. UConn hasn’t exactly forged a reputation for high selectivity or prestige. However, it’s still an excellent choice for any high schoolers looking to have a great time at a lively and historic university. But don’t let its reputation fool you. Many students try and fail to get into UConn each year. It’s essential to go into the UConn admissions process prepared for any curveball it might throw at you. To that end, let’s take a look at UConn’s acceptance rate over the last eight years, according to data gathered from the federally mandated Common Data Set.

University of Connecticut Acceptance Rate Over Eight Years

University of Connecticut Graduating Class	Overall Acceptance Rate	In-State Acceptance Rate	Out-of-State Acceptance Rate
Class of 2027	53.95%	44.94%	56.23%
Class of 2026	54.51%	Not Reported	Not Reported
Class of 2025	55.60%	Not Reported	Not Reported
Class of 2024	56.09%	Not Reported	Not Reported
Class of 2023	49.42%	Not Reported	Not Reported
Class of 2022	48.77%	Not Reported	Not Reported
Class of 2021	47.84%	Not Reported	Not Reported
Class of 2020	48.80%	Not Reported	Not Reported

The data doesn’t lie — it appears to be getting easier to get into the University of Connecticut with time! Why is this noteworthy? Because it flies in the face of the overwhelming trends across higher education to the contrary! At most schools nationwide, the trend is in the opposite direction, towards increasing competitiveness. As the value of a college degree skyrockets amidst widespread economic uncertainty, and a greater and greater proportion of youth around the world opt to try their hands at getting into American schools, acceptance rates have plummeted.

But not, as it appears, at UConn. For admission to the Class of 2020, 48.80% of applicants got in. Eight years later, this figure would stand at 53.95%. It’s unexpected but not the only anomaly in this data. We direct your attention to those mysterious columns tracking in-state and out-of-state acceptances at UConn. This data was only reported for the most recently available admissions cycle, in which 44.94% of Connecticut residents who applied got in versus 56.23% of non-Connecticut residents.

Why Would Uconn Admit More Out-of-state Students Than In-state Applicants?

That’s strange. Don’t most public universities prefer applicants who come from within the state? Why would UConn accept more out-of-staters than domestic applicants? In the absence of more data on this subject, we’re left to speculate. Perhaps out-of-state applicants are more competitive and, therefore, more admissible. Perhaps admissions officers at this school have some idea that students who come from across the U.S. contribute to the diversity of lived experiences in the student body and give them a leg up. Or perhaps it’s because out-of-staters pay higher tuition (the University of California system used to take more out-of-starers for this very reason until they were taken to task!). In any event, it’s quite uncommon these days to see a publicly-funded university give preference to non-state residents. This is just another reason why this data is rather mysterious.

Ivy Coach’s Assistance with UConn Acceptance

Let’s be clear: gaining admission to UConn is no cakewalk. With roughly half of the applicants facing rejection, it’s a competitive process. But you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Ivy Coach, with our team of former elite college admissions officers, has been guiding ambitious high schoolers toward their dream schools since 1992. We understand the power of a unique hook. In today’s landscape, the students who have distinguished themselves with a unique pursuit, cause, or passion stand the best chance of getting into a top school.

Admissions officers at places like UConn want to curate highly diverse cohorts of students who intend to pursue their interests as far as they will go once on campus. Let Ivy Coach help your child signal that they are exactly this type of student.

To enlist our help with optimizing your child’s odds of admission to the University of Connecticut, fill out our complimentary consultation form and we’ll be in touch.