The University of Connecticut (UConn) received the second-highest state appropriations as a percentage of revenue for fiscal year 2023 across flagship universities in all 50 states.
37 percent of UConn’s core revenue, totaling roughly $2.4 billion, came from state appropriations, according to data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). UConn tied with the University of Idaho for the second-highest rate of state appropriations as a percentage of revenue. Only the University of Buffalo, in New York, had a higher rate of 43 percent.
The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor had the lowest percentage of state appropriations as a percentage of core revenue, at just 7 percent.
According to the data, the percentage of tuition and fees UConn receives from tuition and fees, 24 percent according to the IPEDS data, is slightly below average. For both UConn and the University of Buffalo, tuition and fees accounted for 24 percent of core revenue in fiscal year 2023.
UConn also had the second-highest rate of revenue from state appropriations per full-time equivalent enrollment. For fiscal year 2023, UConn received $25,571 in state appropriations for each full-time equivalent enrollment. The school received $16,352 in tuition and revenue for each full-time equivalent enrollment.
Only the University of Alaska Fairbanks received a higher amount of revenue per full-time equivalent enrollment, at $35,907.
Funding for the state’s flagship public university has recently been a topic of concern. Gov. Ned Lamont’s initial budget proposal for the 2026-2027 biennium proposed a roughly $10 million reduction in money for the school in 2026. While the current year budget allocated $245 million for UConn, Lamont’s proposed roughly $234.6 million in fiscal year 2026. It did include an increase to $485 in fiscal year 2027.
Representatives for UConn told legislators when the proposal went before the Appropriations Committee that the funding cut would lead to increased tuition and layoffs. The school has also asked the state to cover the cost of one-time federal funding from the COVID-19 pandemic that it had incorporated into its operating budget.
As the session deadline approaches next week, legislators and Lamont have been meeting to work towards a budget deal. According to House Democrats, a final bill is anticipated later this week or early next week.
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How has this changed over time?
Less we forget the $50,000,000.00 million dollars for a basketball coach, to coach people who already know how to play basketball, for a duration of 6 years.
That’s almost $10,000,000.00 a year, plus who knows what else, because there are always perks, like paid hotels when traveling, meals, and may a car rental.
Maybe if we paid teachers who produce students that will contribute to society, would be money well spent. The priorities of the citizens of Connecticut that allow Connecticut state workers, is visible nationwide.
Remember, corrupt Connecticut state workers are abusing people labeled autistic. Check out me legal GoFundMe page under me FCC id (JJ Fox, Manchester, CT).
All true and very very sad because no one from who claims to be media, will cover this, which adds to the coverup.
The other side of the discussion is the value UConn delivers for the state. How much net new revenue does it deliver to the State? How many jobs does UConn generate for Connecticut? Does the University essentially pay for itself by generating more net new tax revenue than the State provides? The answer is “Yes.” UConn is self-funding because of the scale of resources–external funding, student fees and expenditures, visitors–it pulls into Connecticut. What this reveals is that other states are exploiting, in all likelihood, their flagship universities. But there is more.
Connecticut is one of only three states what have failed to recover in employment from the Great Recession. The vitality and growth of UConn is one of the dynamics that has kept the state from falling even further from that level; UConn has been a major positive element in a state whose economy has been struggling. In the short run, given this context, cutting the University’s funding would be an own goal.
Why are we funding UCONN with our tax dollars. Between tuition and the proceeds from their sports teams should cover their funding.
Connecticut may spend a high percentage of its revenue on UConn, but Connecticut raises and spends less per dollar than almost any other state- Wade Gibson, Fiscal Policy Center, CT Voices 2014. UConn may get a big slice of the pie, but it’s a small pie
Could you share the link to your 2014 source and any newer data from Mr. Gibson? I’m not sure I understand what “Connecticut raises and spends less per dollar” means, is that specific to money raised by vs invested into UConn?
RE: a “small pie” – 2025 data shows that Connecticut has the fourth highest tax burden in the country, “with residents paying 15.4% of their net product in state and local taxes,” and has held this rank vs other states for each of the last ten years. (https://taxfoundation.org/statetaxindex/states/connecticut/)
WalletHub (2025) has CT at 49th, paying 33.2% more in taxes than the average American. (https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-states-to-be-a-taxpayer/2416)
Looking forward to checking that link out! We would love to get as granular as possible when sharing this information.