CSCU Reports a 6.7% Increase in Total Student Enrollment for Fall 2025

The Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system announced today that the Fall 2025 Initial Census Report shows that CT State Community College (CT State) and the four Connecticut State Universities (CSUs) saw an increase of 6.7% in total student enrollment for the 2025-2026 academic year.

The enrollment growth follows a successful 2024-2025 academic year, during which CSCU’s colleges and universities served more than 100,000 learners and awarded 13,316 degrees to 12,258 students, reinforcing the system’s role as an engine of opportunity for Connecticut.

This increase reflects CSCU’s commitment to offering flexible, affordable academic pathways. From degree programs to certificates and micro credentials, to liberal arts and humanities, CT State, the CSUs, and Charter Oak State College provide students of all ages with a well-rounded education that are aligned with the Governor’s Workforce Council and the state’s workforce priorities.

As a whole, the four CSUs have seen an increase of 9.8% in total student enrollment over the previous fall semester. Individual student enrollment increases at the state universities and CT State are as follows:

• Central Connecticut State University: 12.7%
• Eastern Connecticut State University: 9.6%
• Southern Connecticut State University: 6.9%
• Western Connecticut State University: 9.7%
• CT State Community College (12 campuses): 4.3%

These figures include concurrent enrollment. Through dual and concurrent enrollment programs at CSCU’s colleges and universities, high school students can take college-level courses and earn both high school and college credit. These programs have expanded CSCU’s reach into local communities and are helping to build a strong pipeline of future students.

Recent passage of legislation that formally defines and supports dual credit provides CSCU with a clearer framework to scale these programs across its public colleges and universities.

“Our colleges and universities are starting the new academic year with strong momentum. The increase in enrollment reflects our core mission of opening the doors to higher education to as many students as possible,” said CSCU Interim Chancellor O. John Maduko. “Our institutions are meeting the needs of students, employers, and the communities they serve by offering flexible, diverse academic pathways that allow learners to build skills over time or stack credentials toward a degree. We are proud to be shaping Connecticut’s next generation of leaders, nurses, manufacturers, teachers, social workers, and more — who will enrich our state, meet workforce demands, and transform lives for generations.”

Programs like the Connecticut Automatic Admission Program (CAAP) and the Mary Ann Handley Award, formerly known as the PACT Program, are helping to expand access to higher education and boost student retention across the CSCU system. CAAP allows eligible graduating Connecticut high school seniors to be automatically admitted to participating colleges and universities. For Fall 2025, nearly 2,000 students enrolled at one of CSCU’s four universities through the program and nearly 71% of students who use CAAP choose to apply to one of the CSUs.

Launched in 2019, the Mary Ann Handley Award provides debt-free community college tuition for eligible students. To date, the program has awarded more than $91 million in scholarships to over 33,500 students.

“The enrollment growth across the CSCU system reflects the quality and affordability of the education we deliver through the professionalism and dedication of our faculty and staff across all campuses,” said Marty Guay, chair of the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education. “It is also a testament to the strategic initiatives our colleges and universities have undertaken by focusing on student success, retention, and outcomes, providing academic excellence and workforce-aligned programs. Our students learn here, earn here, and stay in Connecticut.”

Charter Oak State College (COSC), an online college within the CSCU system, will conduct its census on October 31, 2025, with the final census report released to include COSC census data soon after.

About Connecticut State Colleges and Universities

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system includes six public institutions: Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western Connecticut State Universities, CT State Community College, and Charter Oak State College. Together, they offer more than 800 degree and certificate programs that provide affordable academic pathways for students of all ages.

With 16 main campuses and over 17 million square feet of facilities statewide, CSCU serves the largest student population in Connecticut. During the 2024-2025 academic year, CSCU served nearly 100,000 learners and awarded 13,316 degrees to 12,258 students. More than 80% of graduates from the state universities, CT State, and Charter Oak choose to remain in Connecticut to live and work, underscoring CSCU’s role as a driver of the state’s workforce and economy.