CSUS Profile
The Connecticut State University System consists of four comprehensive universities: Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven and Western Connecticut State University in Danbury. With more than 36,000 students and 180,000 alumni, CSUS is the largest public university system in Connecticut.The Connecticut State University System is making a difference for our students and our state, strengthening Connecticut's economy and quality of life, providing affordable, accessible and transformative education opportunities.
A CSUS education leads to baccalaureate, graduate and professional degrees consistent with CSUS's historical missions of teacher education and career advancement, including applied doctoral degree programs in education.
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Central

Central CT State University
New Britain, CT
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Eastern

Eastern CT State University
Willimantic, CT
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Southern

Southern CT State University
New Haven, CT
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Western

Western CT State University
Danbury, CT
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Catalyst for Connecticut
- Preparing Connecticut's Future
93% of CSUS students are from Connecticut, and 86% of graduates remain in Connecticut. There are 180,000 alumni of Central, Eastern, Southern and Western in Connecticut.
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- Record-Setting Enrollment
CSUS has more full-time undergraduate and graduate students than ever before. Undergraduate enrollment increased for the seventh consecutive year in 2009-10. Graduate enrollment increased for the first time in the past six years. Total enrollment, including full-time and part-time students, is 36,503, increasing by more than 8,000 (45%) since 1996.
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- Career Building Connections
CSUS provides affordable, accessible, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs in more than 160 subject areas, with extensive opportunities for internships, community service and cultural engagement. New and enhanced academic programs with ties to state workforce needs promote career pathways and critical thinking skills; recent programmatic additions and expansions include civil engineering, nursing and environmental sustainability.
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- Degrees to Meet Demand
CSUS awards the most bachelor's degrees in Connecticut in mathematics and statistics, computer/information science & systems, business administration and related degrees. CSUS also awards the most bachelor's degrees and post-baccalaureate certificates in education and is a leader in awarding Bachelor of Science degrees in nursing.
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- First-Rate Faculty
CSUS provides students with an exceptional, caring faculty - nearly 90% with the highest degrees in their fields - encouraging transformational learning. Fulbright scholars and esteemed educators have distinguished themselves in Connecticut and beyond.
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- Innovative Collaborations
Newly developed collaborations with organizations such as the Connecticut Science Center and non-profit organizations statewide boost education and contribute to Connecticut's long-term well-being.
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- Academic Success and Satisfaction
Across CSUS, 94% of seniors believe their university provides support for student success and 94% report "working harder than they thought they could" to meet an instructor's standards or expectations. In another survey, 94% of seniors said they would recommend their university to prospective students. - Partnerships to Strengthen Readiness
CSUS is actively engaged in preparing students to pursue post-secondary education successfully, collaborating with middle and high schools in a wide range of innovative programs. The "Bridges" program is a model expanding across the system, having earned legislative support in Connecticut and national recognition.
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- Improving Retention and Graduation
Recently developed First Year programs and strengthened academic advising helped boost six-year graduation rates to an all-time high. All four universities now exceed the national average. Retention rates have improved and performance gaps among populations have been reduced.
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- Closing the Gap
There are over one thousand (1,033) more undergraduate students of color enrolled in the fall of 2009, an increase of 23% since fall 2000. The gap in retention rates has dropped from 7% to 1% over the past five years, comparing white and minority students who began as full-time freshmen. The six-year graduation rate has increased in recent years for both African-American and Latino students, and in each of the past two years, the retention rate among African-American students exceeded 80%, compared with 63% in 2002.
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- More Students Transferring In
The number of students transferring from Connecticut Community Colleges has increased 51% since 2001. At 7 of the 12 colleges in 2009-10, the number of transfer students matched or surpassed previous record levels. A new Dual Admission Program was launched in 2009. Connecticut residents transferring from institutions outside Connecticut to CSUS are up 34% since 2003. Overall, transfer applications to CSUS universities have increased from just over 4,000 in 2004 to well over 5,000 in 2009, an increase of 27%.
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- More Students Returning
More than 1,000 students originally attending out-of-state colleges and universities transferred to CSUS universities in Fall 2009, and 83% were returning Connecticut residents. That's up from 76% the previous year.
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- More Advanced Degrees
The number of CSUS graduates pursuing master's degrees grew from 22% a year ago to 29%. In fact, 60% of those pursuing further education are doing so at Central, Eastern, Southern or Western, which is up from 53% a year ago.
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- Ensuring Access
Nearly half of CSUS students, 49%, are the first generation in their families to attend college. Full-time enrollment of minority students at CSUS grew from 2,802 students in the fall of 1996 to 4,151 students in fall 2006, an increase of 48%.
- Great Education, Great Value
CSUS tuition and fees are the lowest among 11 competitor universities (schools that students who attend CSUS had also considered attending). The cost of attendance is also among the lowest compared with public universities in the Northeast. Tuition and fee increases have been below the national average in 9 of the past 12 years.
- Responding to Need
Across the CSUS universities, slightly more than 75% of full time students receive some form of financial aid, and 71% of all financial aid awarded is need-based. Nearly 90% of all non-loan institutional aid awarded is need-based.
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- Progress in Times of Diminishing State Support
State funds now account for less than 40% of operating expenses, compared with 48% a decade ago. In the past two years, the State pulled back $15 million from student tuition and fees to balance the state budget - money that had been designated in support of programs benefitting students.
- Maximizing Federal Funding & Support
Working collaboratively, CSUS obtained an almost unprecedented $1.9 million in federal funds for university programs, including nanotechnology, autism, nursing, college readiness and dual enrollment, to benefit students and the state.
- Cutting Back & Achieving Savings
CSUS achieved savings and cost avoidance of approximately $43.6 million since the economic downturn, including a system-wide management reduction of 10%, continued faculty and staff vacancies and savings in energy costs, equipment purchases, maintenance and supplies, salary freezes and furlough days.
- Resources to Universities
System Office personnel have been reduced by more than 30%, including staff reassigned directly to universities. The System Office budget - including direct services to universities - is now less than 2.5% of the CSUS budget.
- Economic Impact
The annual economic impact of CSUS on the state's economy is $1.84 billion - making a difference everywhere in Connecticut.
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Central

Central CT State University
New Britain, CT
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Eastern

Eastern CT State University
Willimantic, CT
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Southern

Southern CT State University
New Haven, CT
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Western

Western CT State University
Danbury, CT
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