UConn Trustees Endorse 2026-27 Budget

STORRS,CT — The UConn Board of Trustees Wednesday approved a budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year that "balances its commitment to academic excellence, research, and student success with the financial challenges facing higher education at large."

The Trustees also said the budget "aligns with UConn’s mission of protecting and building its academic and research enterprise while realistically reflecting its funding constraints."

The new budget goes into effect July 1.

Officials said the budget retains the board’s commitment to keep 2026-27 tuition levels flat at Storrs and the regional campuses for the second consecutive year to help keep a UConn education "affordable and competitively priced against other institutions."

It also "continues the University’s commitment to providing strong financial aid to qualified students," with $351.4 million allocated – of which about $230 million is funded by the institution, an increase of $33.6 million over the past two years. About 86 percent of undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid.

The FY27 operating budgets will be $1.9 billion for the UConn Storrs and regional campuses and $2.2 billion for UConn Health.

The totals do not include separate capital budgets, also adopted Wednesday, for building renovation and repair projects, equipment, and related expenditures financed primarily by state bonds or user fees, not tuition.

Officials said UConn faces operating budget shortfalls in the upcoming fiscal year of $29.2 million for the Storrs and regional campuses and $54.3 million for UConn Health, for a combined total of $83.5 million.

To fill the gaps and ensure a balanced budget, the University will continue to "expand several mitigation actions already in place, including efforts to reduce operating expenses and using one-time funds that are not already restricted to specific projects."

The University will also "continue to restrict non-essential hiring and review non-permanent and temporary positions, streamline office and administrative functions where appropriate, adjust contracts where possible to realize savings, expand sports sponsorship agreements, adjust enrollment metrics, prioritize student retention to help increase tuition revenue, and other actions."

Wherever possible, the university will work to grow other revenue streams as well. As was the case in the current fiscal year, units will continue to make use of unspent balances it may have available, officials said.

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