Connecticut's public liberal arts university offering 41 majors and hands-on learning in a supportive community.
Eastern Connecticut State University is organized into two schools: the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education and Professional Studies. The university offers 41 majors, 65 minors, and more than 60 concentrations, ranging from Accounting to World Languages and Cultures. Graduate programs include Applied Data Science, Accounting, Education, Teacher Certification, and Organizational Management. The university emphasizes hands-on learning through internships, faculty-mentored undergraduate research, and service-learning opportunities across all disciplines.
The 182-acre campus is divided into South Campus (historic area with Burr Hall, the first dormitory from 1921) and North Campus (modern facilities including the J. Eugene Smith Library and student center). Housing accommodates 88% of first-year students and 63% of all full-time undergraduates. The university hosts more than 2,500 events annually and supports 90+ student clubs and organizations, including cultural, athletic, artistic, and communication groups. Students can participate in 19 NCAA Division III varsity sports, intramural sports, and club sports.
Eastern uses a holistic, rolling admissions process with no strict GPA cutoff; students with 2.5 GPA or higher are encouraged to apply. The university is test-optional; in 2024, admitted students had an average 3.4 GPA and average SAT scores of 980–1190 (62% submitting) or ACT 16–28 (2% submitting). The acceptance rate was 80.5% in 2024. All applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships, and the university strongly encourages completion of the FAFSA for need-based aid.
Eastern reports that 95% of graduates are employed or in graduate school within 6 months. The university holds a Gold Rating from the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) and has been named a Green College by Princeton Review for 15 consecutive years. The Institute for Sustainable Energy, established in 2001, focuses on sustainable energy education and policy. Eastern is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC).