Eastern welcomes 1,000 new undergraduates in fall 2025
Willimantic, CT (08/26/2025) — Eastern Connecticut State University began its 2025-26 academic year on Aug. 26, welcoming more than 1,000 new undergraduate students to its Willimantic campus. The new Warriors, comprising approximately 750 first-time students and 275 transfer students, join a student body of nearly 3,600 students in total, including almost 200 enrolled in graduate programs.
The new students join a diverse, residential campus, with more than one-third of their peers being students of color and over 60% living in campus residence halls. Ninety percent of students hail from Connecticut, though the new students come from 26 states and Canadian provinces overall.
Approximately half of the first-time undergraduates are the first in their families to attend college. They are strong academically, with an average high school GPA of 3.4. Their top declared majors include health sciences, business administration, psychology, nursing, biology, and criminology.
"Each fall, our campus is renewed by the energy and aspirations of new students," said President Karim Ismaili, who is beginning his second academic year at Eastern. "Whether they are the first in their family to attend college, transferring from another institution, or arriving from across Connecticut and beyond, we are committed to helping them find their place at Eastern. My hope is that every student discovers their passions, builds lasting connections, and leaves here prepared to lead lives of purpose and impact."
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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving more than 3,500 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2024-25 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.
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New Eastern students gather for Eastern's annual "E" photo at the start of the fall 2025 semester.
Eastern Connecticut State University
Michael Rouleau, (860) 465-0172, rouleaum@easternct.edu; universityrelations@easternct.eduShare this Story
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