On Feb. 4, Gov. Ned Lamont announced his proposal for Connecticut’s 2026-2027 budget. Although this budget saw an overall increase in spending, the funds allocated toward the University of Connecticut were less than requested, according to President Radenka Maric.
The proposed budget allocates $234.6 million and $239.8 million for UConn in 2026 and 2027, respectively and $123.1 million and $126.9 million for UConn Health, respectively.
This allotment would mean an overall decrease in funding to UConn. In 2025, UConn received $245 million, and UConn Health received $134.3 million.
These changes come from an effort by Lamont to decrease the overall funding that is allotted to higher education, according to the budget.
“The systematic approach […] will enable, among other things, Connecticut to increase its draw-down of federal higher education Pell funds,” Lamont wrote in the proposed budget.
Maric released a statement the same day discussing the funds that have been allocated to UConn.
According to Maric, the state of Connecticut is funding “approximately 16% of the combined university budget overall this year.”
Maric wrote that more time is needed to determine the full effect the budget could have on UConn.
“The university must take the time to thoroughly review the proposed budget to fully understand its implications if enacted as written,” Maric wrote.
The statement talks about university leaders’ plans to address the proposed budget.
“Along with other university leaders, Dr. [Andrew Agwunobi] and I look forward to testifying before the General Assembly’s Appropriations Committee regarding the proposed budget and related issues on Feb. 19,” Maric wrote. “Remember that today marks only the beginning of the state budget process and we look forward to working closely with the governor, [United States Office of Personnel Management], and the General Assembly in the months ahead as the process unfolds.”
However, Maric wrote that “we have reasons to be optimistic about our university and its future.”
“UConn has set a record for applications at nearly 62,000… This year, 8,800 first-generation undergraduate students enrolled at UConn. The first-year retention of these students has increased from 86% to 89% in the last several years,” Maric wrote. The statement also detailed fundraising efforts that UConn has been running, and grants and research that UConn has in its future, and the amount of UConn graduates in Connecticut’s workforce.
Maric ended the statement by talking about UConn and the State of Connecticut’s relationship.
“Connecticut and UConn are inextricably linked; there is no Connecticut without UConn, and there is no UConn without Connecticut. By working collaboratively with state and federal partners, parents, donors, and alumni, we are poised to reach unprecedented heights in our mission,” Maric wrote.
Lamont’s proposed budget would see large increases to the amount of money going towards childcare and special education and would loosen “fiscal guardrails” that have restricted Connecticut’s spending of money acquired from “volatile” sources of revenue.