How to Get Into UConn: Acceptance Rate + Tips

photo of Connecticut
Updated:
June 11, 2024
Expert Reviewed
Contents

”Mary

Reviewed by:

Mary Banks

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 5/29/24

 

Dreaming of going to the University of Connecticut? Read this guide on how to get into UConn to make that dream a reality!

Nestled in the charming town of Storrs, Connecticut, the University of Connecticut is a highly regarded institution known for its rigorous academic programs and stunning main campus. It was founded in 1880 as an agricultural school and eventually became a university after granting its first four-year Bachelor of Science degree in 1915.

Keep reading, and we’ll break down everything you need for a successful UConn application!

UConn Acceptance Rate: 55%

The University of Connecticut's acceptance rate is 55%. There are more than 40,000 first-year applicants across all its campuses. The University of Connecticut’s most recent incoming class consisted of 48,000 undergrad students, with 4,100 first-year students enrolling at the Storrs campus. 

UConn is continuing its streak of admitting a more diverse first-year class, seeing strong numbers of first-generation students, students representing racial and ethnic minorities, and students from low-income backgrounds.

About 75% of UConn’s current undergraduate students are Connecticut residents, while the remaining 25% come from other states. Interest from international students, which were negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, continues to gain traction as well. 

Year Number of Applicants Number of Accepted Students Acceptance Rate
2022 - 2023 40,894 22,293 55%
2021 - 2022 36,753 20,433 56%
2020 - 2021 34,437 19,316 56%
2019 - 2020 35,096 17,346 49%

Source: Common Data Set

UConn Early Decision Acceptance Rate

UConn doesn’t offer early decision or early action applications and therefore has no acceptance rate for these categories.

How Hard Is It to Get Into UConn?

The University of Connecticut is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 55%. Students should try to make their application competitive in order to secure an offer of admission.

UConn Admission Statistics

Successful UConn applicants should aim for a 3.74 GPA, 1330 SAT, and 30 ACT. These scores put students in a competitive range for chances of admission.

UConn Average GPA: 3.74

The average GPA at UConn is 3.74. Students applying should try to maintain an average in the A-range. This will ensure their GPA remains competitive when their applications are reviewed. It’s also important to note that different programs have different GPA expectations.

UConn Average SAT Score: 1330

The average SAT score at UConn is 1330. Scoring between 1220 and 1440 will help keep students in the acceptable range for UConn applications. To boost your chances of scoring within this range, consistent practice is key. Take advantage of Quad’s free full-length practice test to make the most of your prep time!

UConn Average ACT Score: 30

The average ACT score at UConn is 30. Students who score in the range of 28 to 33 will be on par with other successful applicants

What Is UConn Looking for In Applicants?

How Uconn evaluates applicants is mostly through academic criteria, such as GPA and test scores. Most of their applications emphasize how students perform in an academic setting.

Academic Very Important Important Considered Not Considered
Rigor of secondary school record X
Class rank X
Academic GPA X
Standardized test scores X
Application essay X
Recommendation(s) X

Non-Academic Very Important Important Considered Not Considered
Interview X
Extracurricular activities X
Talent/ability X
Character/personal qualities X
First generation X
Alumni/ae relation X
Geographical residence X
State residency X
Religious affiliation/commitment X
Racial/ethnic status X
Volunteer work X
Work experience X
Level of applicant’s interest X

Source: Common Data Set

UConn Key Takeaways From UConn's Common Data Set

The Common Data Set highlights the importance of academics in a student’s profile. Criteria like GPA, class rank, course difficulty, and standardized test scores are all crucial aspects of admissions. Other important qualities include the application essay, extracurriculars, volunteer work, and recommendations.

UConn Application Requirements

You’ll need a high GPA and test scores to get into UConn. Aim for a 4.0 GPA and test scores in the 75th percentile, meaning a 1430 on the SAT and a 33 on the ACT. Since UConn highly values academic excellence, take rigorous IB or AP courses to make your application stand out! 

Here are the UConn application requirements you should be aware of before applying.

Application Requirement Checklist

Here is a list of UConn’s application requirements:

  • Complete common application
  • Pay an $80 application fee
  • Write one essay and two optional letters of recommendation
  • Hand in your academic record or official transcript
  • Do the standardized tests (optional)

If you are applying to one of the following special programs, you will have other additional components for your application:

  • Acting
  • Art
  • Art history
  • Design/technical theater
  • Digital media and design
  • Music
  • Puppetry arts
  • Theatre studies

Making sure you have everything in is very important, so make yourself a checklist of these items so that you can check them off your list as they are finished.

High School Course Requirements

The University of Connecticut has some specific academic requirements that students need to meet before they can apply. Students are required to complete college preparatory classes, such as those offered through the AP or IB programs. All first-year applicants must complete the following:

  • Four years of English
  • Three years of math (algebra I, algebra II, and geometry or their equivalents)
  • Two years of social studies (including one year of US history)
  • Two years of a single foreign language (three years strongly recommended)
  • Two years of laboratory science
  • Three years of electives
  • High school chemistry required for School of Nursing applicants
  • High school chemistry and physics required for School of Engineering applicants

If you’ve completed these academic requirements, then you will be able to apply to UConn.

GPA Requirements

Something to note when applying to UConn is that they do not have a specific GPA requirement for applicants. This is because they recalculate grade point averages as part of their admissions review process. They do this so that the admissions committee can review students using the same metric.

In other words, they recalculate your GPA so that it reflects your academic standing when compared to other schools, not just those you went to school with. With that said, the University of Connecticut does value academic achievement, so you should assume that getting good grades is a requirement to enter.

Standardized Test Requirements

In terms of standardized tests, the University of Connecticut does not technically require you to take the SAT or ACT, but it does recommend it. If you decide to send in your scores, aim for an SAT score between 1230-1430 or 28 and 33 on the ACT.

Note that about one-quarter of students who are admitted get a higher score than those mentioned above. So if UConn is where you want to go, make sure to take the tests and aim high.

UConn Application Deadlines

To apply for the University of Connecticut, there are various deadlines that you need to know. The following table gives you all the information you need to make sure you can apply on time.

Date Application Admissions Date
December 1 Priority Application Deadline for Merit and Honors Consideration Notifications begin March 1
January 15 Storrs Campus Application Deadline Notifications begin March 1
February 15 Financial Aid Eligibility Deadline
May 1 Regional Campus Application Deadline Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis
October 1 Application for the spring semester for all UConn Campuses Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis

Source: UConn

If you are applying to the University of Connecticut, keep this table close to make sure you do not miss a deadline.

UConn Regular Decision Deadline

The UConn regular decision deadline is January 15 for the Storrs campus. Students applying to the regional campus will have until May 1.

UConn Early Action/Early Decision Deadline  

UConn doesn’t offer early decision or early action applications.

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting Into UConn

The University of Connecticut is looking for students who show certain qualities; when deciding on acceptances, they look for students with rigor, involvement, performance, and good personal qualities.

Rigor

To show rigor, you will have to complete the admission requirements to the fullest, making sure that everything UConn is looking for has been done to a high standard. UConn will look at the courses you took in high school to determine if they were at a challenging level.

Involvement

The second criterion to think about when figuring out how to get into UConn is how involved you were in extracurriculars. The University of Connecticut is looking for students who are highly involved with their school and community. They will be checking to see which clubs and organizations you were a part of and how you gave back to your community.

Sometimes students struggle with leveraging their extracurricular activities on college applications. Consider a Quad success story from David, who used his interests to gain admission to the University of Michigan:

Performance

The University of Connecticut places a strong emphasis on academic performance, so the admissions committee will closely review the grades of applicants. They will be looking for applicants who have demonstrated high achievement throughout their high school careers.

Personal Qualities

Once they’ve looked at your grades, they will then look at your personal qualities to see if you would be a good match for the university environment. 

They want to know about your character and what motivates you to do well as a student and in life. They look to see if you have demonstrated an appreciation of multiculturalism, responsibility, and empathy towards others.

These four areas are very important to UConn and should be considered when thinking about applying to this university. Your application must reflect these characteristics, and if you can demonstrate them, then you are likely to get into UConn.

UConn Essay Prompts

UConn requires a 250-650-word personal essay. This serves as a great opportunity for students to help admissions officers get to know them better. UConn advises to highlight the following points:

  • Pick a topic that’s relevant to you
  • Show your experience rather than tell them
  • Communicate in a voice and tone that’s natural
  • Have someone such as a teacher or parent proofread

{Insert Expert Quote}

Title: Rachel’s Top Tips for Writing Stellar Admissions Essays

Admissions Advisor Rachel Woods offers these top tips for writing stellar admissions essays:

"I think the biggest thing that schools look for in essays is authenticity. To craft a stand-up essay, you really need to stay true to yourself. Write something that feels right for you. Plenty of people will say: “You should write about this, or you should write about that.” I think that writing about something that comes naturally to you or something that you’re actually excited about—even if it doesn't seem like you know the most unique thing. If it's unique to you and important to you, that will show."
"Obviously, you want to make sure there are no errors in your essays, and you also want to really focus on a narrative. I always tell students I think a really great way to start your essay is with a story—a really short anecdote that pulls the reader in. You really want the admissions committees to say: “Wow, I really need to keep reading this essay because I need to know how this story ends.”

UConn Interview

Interviews are not considered for UConn’s admissions process. 

FAQs: How to Get Into UConn

Still have questions about how to get into UConn? Here are some commonly asked questions and their answers that will give you the information you need.

1. How Hard Is It to Get Into UConn?

It can be somewhat hard getting into UConn, as the acceptance rate is 55%.

The admissions committee prioritizes students who are involved in their school and community, so having a wide variety of extracurriculars can help you gain admittance. 

Though you’re not required to take the SAT or ACT, if you choose to do them, they will look at those scores to help make their decision about admittance. So, it is a good idea to sit the tests. If you’re worried about getting a good enough test score, get a tutor to help!

2. Can You Get Into UConn With a Low GPA?

A low GPA does not necessarily mean that you will not get into UConn, as they adjust applicants' GPAs so that they can be evaluated on equal ground. 

This means that your GPA from high school might change when the university makes the adjustments, so try not to worry if you think your GPA might be too low. Also, they take into account what courses you take in high school, so if you are taking very hard courses, this will look good on your application.

3. What Is UConn's Out-of-State Acceptance Rate?

Though the acceptance rate for out-of-state students is a bit lower, the total acceptance rate for UConn is 55%. If you’re worried about getting into UConn, remember that they look at the overall rigor, involvement, performance, and personal qualities, so as long as you show these criteria, you will be a shoo-in.

4. Is It Harder to Get Into Penn State or UConn?

UConn and Penn State have similar acceptance rates and difficulties of admission. 

UConn has higher academic requirements and values extracurricular involvement. The ease of admission to either university depends on your qualifications and the admission criteria used.

5. How Much Is Tuition at UConn?

In-state tuition at UConn is $17,010, while students coming from out-of-state will pay $39,678.

Final Thoughts

Getting into the University of Connecticut is not easy, but through this guide, you should be able to gain acceptance. Remember to show UConn that you are involved in your school and community, as this will help you with your application. By using this guide, we hope that you can follow your dream of becoming the next UConn Husky!

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