Charter Oak State College Reports 17% Enrollment Increase, Building on Systemwide Growth Across CSCU

Charter Oak State College, Connecticut's only public online college, announced today a 17.3% increase in total student enrollment for the Fall 2025 semester. This significant growth builds on the strong momentum across the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system, where the four Connecticut State Universities (CSUs) and CT State Community College (CT State) together reported a 6.7% increase in total enrollment for the 2025-2026 academic year - bringing the system-wide increase to 7% overall.

Charter Oak State College continues to lead in offering flexible, affordable, and workforce-aligned academic pathways for adult learners in some of the most in demand career fields including Business, Healthcare, Technology, Human Services, Education and Nursing. The college provides a range of online associate, bachelor's and master's degree programs, plus certificates and upskilling opportunities designed to meet the evolving needs of Connecticut's employers and residents.

"Our success is built on delivering innovative, in-demand, and affordable online programs that meet the needs of today's workforce," said Charter Oak State College President Ed Klonoski. "We understand that busy working adults have choices. That's why we design flexible, high-quality academic pathways - from entry-level and mid-career credentials to master's degrees - that help professionals advance and lead in their fields."

The College has awarded almost 20,000 degrees and certificates since its founding in 1973, and 96% of students report being satisfied or very satisfied overall with Charter Oak State College.

Earlier this year, Charter Oak launched the Connecticut Online AI Academy in partnership with Google. The program delivers AI fundamentals and a Google AI Essentials credential online, at no cost, to Connecticut residents 18 and older. To date, the academy has had approximately 2,000 participants.

Individual student enrollment increases across the CSCU system are as follows:

• Central Connecticut State University: 12.7%
• Eastern Connecticut State University: 9.6%
• Southern Connecticut State University: 6.9%
• Western Connecticut State University: 9.7%
• CT State Community College (12 campuses): 4.3%
• Charter Oak State College: 17.3%

"Charter Oak State College, our four state universities, and CT State Community College, are offering more than just academic pathways - they provide intentional bridges to the living-wage jobs and careers of tomorrow," said CSCU Interim Chancellor O. John Maduko. "Learners across the state are choosing our colleges and universities because our programs deliver immediate value and opportunity. Higher education remains a powerful ladder for social mobility, making it more important than ever to meet students where they are and keep tuition affordable."

About Connecticut State Colleges and Universities

Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) system includes six public institutions: Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western Connecticut State Universities, CT State Community College, and Charter Oak State College. Together, they offer more than 800 degree and certificate programs that provide affordable academic pathways for students of all ages.

With 16 main campuses and over 17 million square feet of facilities statewide, CSCU serves the largest student population in Connecticut. During the 2024-2025 academic year, CSCU served nearly 100,000 learners and awarded 13,316 degrees to 12,258 students. More than 80% of graduates from the state universities, CT State, and Charter Oak choose to remain in Connecticut to live and work, underscoring CSCU's role as a driver of the state's workforce and economy.