This article was originally reported in April 2025.
On April 28, 2025, the University of Connecticut announced that it would offer student housing near its Hartford campus for the first time. UConn’s Board of Trustees approved leasing studio and one-bedroom apartments at The Donaghue, 525 Main St. in downtown Hartford, for up to 57 students in the 2025–26 academic year, as a bridge to a larger, permanent residence hall of about 200 beds on Pratt Street planned for August 2026 (UConn Today, April 28, 2025).
From commuter campus to residential campus
UConn Hartford moved to downtown Hartford in 2017, and its undergraduate enrollment has grown steadily since then, but until 2025 it had no student housing. Under the 2025 plan:
- The Donaghue: apartments for up to 57 students, offered through UConn’s Residential Life.
- Meal plans: residents could choose a plan with five or 10 meals a week plus $50 in dining points per semester.
- Café: a new café in the Hartford Times building, the campus headquarters, open to the UConn community and the public, accepting UConn meal plans.
Nathan Fuerst, UConn’s vice president for student life and enrollment, said, “The housing option will help students develop a strong sense of community.” Mark Overmyer-Velázquez, dean and chief administrative officer of UConn Hartford, described it as part of “the University’s commitment to partnering with the City of Hartford” (UConn Today).
The project has outside support. In October 2024, Travelers gave UConn $500,000 over five years to help qualified students cover room and board in the planned Pratt Street residence hall (UConn Today, October 31, 2024), and The Hartford later gave another $500,000 for housing scholarships (UConn Foundation).
Latest update: the Pratt Street residence hall opened in 2026
The permanent residence hall, a converted four-story former office building on Pratt Street with 60 rooms, opened for the fall 2026 semester, with about 200 students expected to live there and move-in beginning August 29, 2026. The state and city contributed $5 million to the project. UConn President Radenka Maric said the opening “marks an important step towards securing UConn’s place in the state’s capitol city” (WFSB, August 17, 2026).
What students considering UConn Hartford should know
- Regional campus. UConn Hartford is one of UConn’s regional campuses, and the majors offered there differ from those at the main campus in Storrs. Check which campus offers your intended major before applying.
- Housing is limited. With about 200 beds, the Hartford residence hall houses only part of the campus’s students; many still commute or rent privately. Apply early through UConn’s housing process if you want a room.
- International students should confirm with UConn’s International Student and Scholar Services whether their program is offered at the Hartford campus and arrange housing before arriving, since F-1 students must report a U.S. address to their school. For admissions statistics, costs and international enrollment, see our University of Connecticut school page. UConn ranks No. 73 among national universities in the 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings (Forward Pathway rankings).
References
- UConn Today: UConn to Offer Housing Option Near Hartford Campus Starting in Fall 2025 (April 28, 2025)
- UConn Today: UConn Receives $500,000 from Travelers to Support Housing Stipends for UConn Hartford Students (October 31, 2024)
- UConn Foundation: UConn Hartford receives $500,000 from The Hartford to support student housing scholarships
- WFSB: UConn students move into new downtown Hartford housing this fall (August 17, 2026)
- Forward Pathway: University of Connecticut