Why Eastern?
The path to your future starts at eastern!Eastern is a public university with a private college atmosphere. Our picturesque campus provides the perfect environment for learning and personal growth. Build meaningful connections with professors and forge lasting friendships. Gain practical experience in your field of study to prepare for a thriving career.
Discover the unique opportunities and programs available on our campus.
Eastern is one of the top 25 public universities in the North Region (from Maine to Maryland).
Named one of the 224 best colleges in the Northeast according to The Princeton Review, considered from a selections of hundreds of institutions in the region.
Named a Green College by Princeton Review fourteen years in a row, based on 25 criteria; only schools with scores above 80 are recognized.
As a College of Distinction Eastern exemplifies high-impact educational practices that result in engaged students, great teaching, a vibrant campus community and successful outcomes.
Eastern was ranked one of the top four university police departments in the United States by safecampussummit.org for the University’s efforts to improve campus safety.
Eastern Connecticut State University has been designated as a “Military Friendly” School for 2021-22.
Find Your Place
What Will You Study?
Find the major you wantUndergraduates can choose from 41 majors, 65 minors and more than 60 concentrations. Everything from Accounting to World Languages and Cultures. Graduate programs and continuing education opportunities are also available.
Student Life
Life on a Beautiful CampusHousing
88 percent of first-year students and 63 percent of all students live on campus. Live close to classes, the library, computing resources, and student activities — get better grades and graduate on time!
Student Clubs
More than 90 student clubs and organizations, including co-curricular, cultural, club sports, art/music, and more. Can’t find one you like? Start your own! People to meet and things to do!
Sports and Recreation
Eastern has 19 varsity sports ranging from baseball to volleyball and competes in NCAA Division III. The Warriors have won ten national titles and six straight LEC Commissioner's Cups for best athletic performance.
Health and Wellness
Eastern supports healthy minds and bodies with a range of fitness, wellness and recreational activities. Work out in the fitness center, participate in intramurals, practice yoga or join a club sports team.
Campus Culture
2,500 events a year include concerts, lectures, plays, etc. Gain cultural perspectives from a student-run radio station, a new arts center and programs that support women, the LGBT community and a diverse community.
Support Services
Going to college is fun yet challenging —but we will have your back! Services range from career counseling to health services and financial aid, from campus ministries to the Veterans Center.
Next Steps
The Road to EasternHands-On Learning
From Internships to Global StudiesUndergraduate Research
Eastern undergraduates conduct faculty-mentored research in every major—everything from genetics to theater set design.
Learn MoreInternships
Dozens of internships provide you with hands-on experiences related to your major — a stepping stone to future employment.
Learn MoreService
Gain professional experience and leadership skills volunteering for local social agencies and nonprofits, or take a service-learning course connected to your major.
Learn MoreGlobal Learning
Take a “global field course” or study for a semester in one of more than 130 countries. Or study at another U.S. university!
Learn MoreUndergraduate Research
Eastern undergraduates conduct faculty-mentored research in every major—everything from genetics to theater set design.
Learn MoreInternships
Dozens of internships provide you with hands-on experiences related to your major — a stepping stone to future employment.
Learn MoreService
Gain professional experience and leadership skills volunteering for local social agencies and nonprofits, or take a service-learning course connected to your major.
Learn MoreGlobal Learning
Take a “global field course” or study for a semester in one of more than 130 countries. Or study at another U.S. university!
Learn MoreClayton Pollock ’07
Biology major Clayton Pollock is a National Park Service biologist in the U.S. Virgin Islands. “I wouldn’t be here today without the foundation I received from the Biology Department. I will never forget my experiences in Belize and San Salvador Island; those opportunities helped define my career aspirations and provided a great deal of practical experience.”
Success After Eastern
Success after Graduation40k
Successful alumni in careers across the United States
#1
Top 4-year graduation rate among CT State Universities
Eastern students graduate with strong problem-solving, communication and teambuilding skills in dozens of career fields. They become doctors, attorneys, accountants, teachers and social workers in Connecticut and throughout the nation and the world. Eastern alumni include world- class scientists, nationally recognized artists and award-winning authors. You could be one!
Who Hires Eastern Graduates?
Faculty Spotlight
Kim Ward - Professor, Mathematical Sciences“Working at Eastern, with its smaller class sizes, is a great fit. Getting to know my students and watching them grow, both academically and personally, over their time at Eastern and beyond is very rewarding.”
Faculty Spotlight
Kristalyn Salters-Pedneault - Professor, Psychological Science“I train lots of students in our Mental Health Counseling concentration who plan to become therapists. I tell them that to be a good therapist, they would be well-served to experience as much art as possible. There’s so much to learn about being human; art is a window into to the full experience like no other.”
Faculty Spotlight
Lora Lee - Associate Professor, Art and Art History“Your dedication, continuous improvement and ability to adapt will be your keys to success in the dynamic field of graphic design and art.”
Faculty Spotlight
Laura Rodriguez - Assistant Professor, Education“Due to the social nature of learning, I believe that teaching must first and foremost focus on developing and nurturing relationships with and among students. Nurturing relationships is a combination of demonstrating care and respect for your students with explicit teaching of interactional norms and communicating high expectations.”
Faculty Spotlight
Madeleine Fugère - Professor, Psychological Sciences“My favorite part of teaching is connecting with students, so my classes are very interactive.”
Faculty Spotlight
Marin Kurti - Assistant Professor, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work“I am a first-generation immigrant and grew up in the Bronx, New York City, where I was exposed to different cultures and backgrounds that taught me the value of diversity and encouraged my curiosity of the world around me.”
Faculty Spotlight
Mark Fabrizi - Professor, Education“Work hard, read extensively, and never settle for good enough.”
Faculty Spotlight
Megan Stanton - Assistant Professor, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work“Work hard, read extensively, and never settle for good enough.”
Faculty Spotlight
Michèle Bacholle - Professor of French, World Languages and Cultures“Teaching in person when most courses were online during the pandemic [was a memorable moment]. The class chemistry was just special.”
Faculty Spotlight
Okon Hwang - Professor, Music“Everyone contributes to create a positive and productive learning environment. I learn from students as much as they learn from me.”
Faculty Spotlight
Peter Drzewiecki - Professor, Environmental Earth Science“I would encourage students to find a balance in life between work, fun and family. Hopefully these are not mutually exclusive activities! I also encourage them to never stop learning about the world around them, keep asking questions and continually challenge themselves.”
Faculty Spotlight
Racheal Pesta - Assistant Professor, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work“The most rewarding experiences at Eastern are cultivating meaningful relationships with students. Whether it’s supervising an independent study or honors thesis, or having the opportunity to mentor undergraduate students towards independent thinking and scholarship is something that makes Eastern unique.”
Faculty Spotlight
Scott Moore - Associate Professor, History, History and Social Sciences“I urge students to approach history by being as open as possible to learning about time periods and places they haven’t had a lot of prior exposure to.”
Faculty Spotlight
Tao Chen - Associate Professor, Art and Art HistoryTao Chen’s artwork has been exhibited in juried art shows nationally and internationally. His passion for art started when his father showed Tao early on the joy of drawing and opened up a world of artistic inspiration.
Faculty Spotlight
Tom Balcerski - Associate Professor, History, History and Social Sciences“I truly enjoy engaging with students inside and outside of the classroom. Whenever possible, I bring students into the wider world around them...”
Faculty Spotlight
Craig Erwin - Associate Professor, Business Administration“One thing that employers like most about Eastern graduates is that they are not afraid to work hard.”
Faculty Spotlight
David Belles - Professor, Music“Committing to excelling in any discipline, music in this case, will transfer to all aspects of life. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and you will reach heights beyond you think you are capable of.”
Faculty Spotlight
Kwangwon Lee - Assistant Professor, Education“After college, everyone takes a different life path, and that path may not be what we always expect. Don’t be afraid of change and be willing to take chances!”
Faculty Spotlight
Martin Mendoza-Botelho - Professor, Political Science, Philosophy and Geography“Never stop learning nor be curious about the world. Value knowledge and cultures of all types and be true to yourself. Pursue careers and activities that have meaning to your life, you will not regret walking this path.”
Faculty Spotlight
Scott Smith - Assistant Professor, Computer Science“Do something you like doing. More than likely, you will be doing it for a long time so you have to enjoy it!”
Faculty Spotlight
Caitlin Vasquez-O'Brien - Assistant Professor, Psychological Science“I believe that learning should be exciting and open to everyone. I am successful when students feel the same sense of excitement about the material that I do, and when they are able to draw connections from what we are learning to the world around them.”
Faculty Spotlight
Tanya Moorehead - Associate Professor, Education“My goal is to give students the opportunity to get to know each other, so that they feel comfortable to take risks together and learn.”
Faculty Spotlight
Sudha Swaminathan - Professor, Education“I tell my students to stay flexible because the education they are getting at Eastern prepares them to be teachers for sure, but it also gives them the skills to do a number of other things that they may not realize they have the capacity or interest to accomplish.”
Faculty Spotlight
Ricardo Pérez - Professor of Anthropology, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work“Students interested in Anthropology should hone the skills they gain at Eastern — critical thinking, problem-solving, and clear and effective written and oral communication; these will be assets to any job or future career path.”
Faculty Spotlight
Megan Heenehan - Professor, Mathematical Sciences“Don’t feel stuck on one path. It’s ok to try one career and then pivot to something else. Be open to learning new things and find something you enjoy doing.”
Faculty Spotlight
Kedan He - Assistant Professor, Physical Sciences“Computers enable students to readily visualize and analyze the complex behavior of such systems, and thus present a unique and valuable tool with which they can further strengthen their intuition and solve otherwise intractable problems.”
Faculty Spotlight
Kristen Morgan - Associate Professor and Chair, Design and Media TechnologyGet a liberal arts education; designers need to know about philosophy, history, literature, art, science, math, psychology and sociology, just to name a few. The larger your breadth of knowledge, the better equipped you are to analyze a script for design.
Faculty Spotlight
Afarin Rahmanifar - Associate Professor, Art and Art HistoryOne of the most important aspects of teaching I have learned over the years is that each student is unique and that’s rewarding to me as a teacher.
Faculty Spotlight
Allison Speicher - Associate Professor, EnglishTo quote my favorite Education professor, ‘Your students won’t remember everything you teach them, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel.’
Faculty Spotlight
Anthony Aidoo - Professor, Mathematical SciencesThe most rewarding thing about teaching mathematics at Eastern is knowing that I have the support of my colleagues and my academic department to prepare graduating students who advance in life because of mathematics.
Faculty Spotlight
Anthony Cornicello - Professor, MusicI love showing students music that they most likely have not encountered — whether it’s jazz or classical. Quite often, there is a wonderful positive reaction that makes it all so worthwhile!
Faculty Spotlight
Brian Day - Assistant Professor of Film, Communication, Film and Theatre“I really find working with students to be very rewarding. I enjoy watching them develop as young adults as they expand their skills and knowledge, which leads to them growing in confidence.”
Faculty Spotlight
Bryan Oakley - Professor, Environmental Earth Science“Get involved with fieldwork as much as possible. Be versatile. I am able to do what I do because while I am trained as a geologist I have collaborated with coastal planners and managers, biologists, soil scientists and coastal engineers.”
Faculty Spotlight
Caitlin Carenen - Professor, History“History offers diverse career opportunities — there is no one career track. Skills that students learn studying history that are transferable to life after Eastern include critical thinking, analytical writing, exploring evidence and being able to make a persuasive argument.”
Faculty Spotlight
Cara Bergstrom-Lynch - Professor of Sociology, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology and Social Work“I believe that when students feel both intellectually challenged and supported, they are better prepared to fully engage in the learning process.”
Faculty Spotlight
Christopher Krebs - Assistant Professor, Psychological Sciences“Life is a marathon so don’t rush it. The work that you’ve done and connections you’ve built at Eastern will last a lifetime so don’t forget that as you begin tackling the next chapters of your life. Enjoy the adventure!”
Faculty Spotlight
Chris Torockio - Professor, English“If you want to be a writer, you have got to love the process. Writing fiction is a slow, meticulous, painstaking process, filled with infinite mistakes and false starts. Great writing never, ever, ever falls easily out of the writer fully formed, the way legend would have us believe.”
Faculty Spotlight
Courtney Broscious - Associate Professor of Political Science, Political Science, Philosophy and Geography“Life is not a linear process. Don’t always be in a hurry to get to the next milestone, because you never know what types of opportunities you will miss in the present.”
Faculty Spotlight
David Stoloff - Professor, Education“Educators are lifelong learners. Every day brings new lessons. We learn more from our students than we teach them.”
Faculty Spotlight
Emiliano Villanueva - Professor, Business Administration“Students see me and see that I have accomplished something; this simple acknowledgment makes my interactions with students very valuable: if I could, they can also make it.”
Faculty Spotlight
Fatma Pakdil - Professor, Business AdministrationProfessor Fatma Pakdil developed the healthcare management concentration for business administration majors and created the healthcare management minor.
Faculty Spotlight
Maeve Doyle - Assistant Professor, Art and Art HistoryI had the rare fortune to spend my whole education in small, liberal arts institutions. I love the personal, hands-on learning that places like Eastern foster. I sought it out as a student, and I’m thrilled to be part of Eastern’s public liberal arts mission today.
Faculty Spotlight
Garrett Dancik - Professor, Computer ScienceProfessor Dancik has dedicated much of his work to teaching and developing courses in computer science, data science and bioinformatics, an interdisciplinary field that uses computational and mathematical tools to organize and analyze biological data.
Faculty Spotlight
James Diller - Professor, Psychological SciencesDr. James Diller is an expert in the field of behavior analysis. He is credited with developing the concentration in behavior analysis at Eastern, which allows students to sit for national certification.
Faculty Spotlight
Jeff Calissi - Associate Professor, MusicBeing a percussionist means having proficiency in more than a singular musical instrument and teaching at a liberal arts institution is rather similar.
Faculty Spotlight
Jenna Scisco - Associate Professor, Psychological Sciences“I went to a public liberal arts college for my undergraduate degree (The College of New Jersey). My dream was to teach psychology at a similar institution, and Eastern was a perfect fit.”
Faculty Spotlight
Jonathan Hulvey - Associate Professor, Biology“I am deeply curious about how nature works, and I believe that everyone has this innate curiosity. Some of the most rewarding moments have been to witness students begin to ask more and deeper questions or try new experiments in the lab, for the sheer joy of discovering something new and being able to see the natural world from a new angle.”
#MyEastern
What's Going On?
News
View All22
average class size
82%
of classes with <30 students
15:1
student/faculty ratio
41
majors
65
minors
60+
concentrations
10
National Division III Championships
10
National Players-of-the-Year
6
National Academic All-Americans
94
hrs/wk open
24/7
online access
100+
research guides
$9.2
million in Merit scholarships
76%
of full-time undergrad applicants receive financial aid
$17.9
million in need-based aid
19
varsity sports teams
950
Intramural/club athletes
5
club sports
88%
first-year students live on campus
#1
residential CSU campus
14
residence halls
4,355
undergraduate students
29
states
3
countries
5
times Eastern Chorale at Carnegie Hall
118,000
sq ft Fine Arts Center
3
appearances with Josh Groban
90+
Student clubs and organizations
2,500
annual student events
72,000
Square-foot Student Center
400+
safety cameras across campus
70+
emergency "blue phones"
#4
nationally ranked campus police (2018)
1,600
student volunteers annually
10,500
volunteer hours/year
100+
service learning courses created
800
paid and for-credit internships
1,800
Jobs posted on ECN website
2,000
participants in career events
100%
green electricity on campus
100+
sustainability courses
13
Consecutive years "Green Campus"
41
countries to study abroad
55+
years of Biology trips to Caribbean
6
straight years Commissioners Cup (Best athletic performance)
8
years winning Presidents’ Cup (best academic performance)
161
All-Americans