Ranking

Best Colleges in Connecticut by ROI 2026

University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus leads this ROI ranking with a A+ value grade and a 17.01 ROI score. EduGradify ranks 25 colleges here by earnings against net price.

The top-value Connecticut colleges — graduate earnings against net price, from federal data.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $10,875
Top earnings 10y: $100,533
Public / Private: 11 / 13

University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

A+

Waterbury, CT · Public

ROI score: 17.01
Net price: $10,875
Earnings 10y: $73,997
Acceptance: 86.7%

University of Connecticut-Avery Point

Groton, CT · Public

ROI score: 13.40
Net price: $13,807
Earnings 10y: $73,997
Acceptance: 88.2%

University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus

Hartford, CT · Public

ROI score: 11.28
Net price: $16,403
Earnings 10y: $73,997
Acceptance: 88.3%

University of Connecticut-Stamford

Stamford, CT · Public

ROI score: 11.01
Net price: $16,798
Earnings 10y: $73,997
Acceptance: 83%

Yale University

New Haven, CT · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 10.57
Net price: $23,777
Earnings 10y: $100,533
Acceptance: 3.9%

Charter Oak State College

New Britain, CT · Public

ROI score: 10.15
Net price: $15,815
Earnings 10y: $64,209
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Connecticut State Community College

New Britain, CT · Public

ROI score: 8.98
Net price: $11,513
Earnings 10y: $41,344
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Central Connecticut State University

New Britain, CT · Public

ROI score: 8.69
Net price: $16,857
Earnings 10y: $58,562
Acceptance: 73.3%

Western Connecticut State University

Danbury, CT · Public

ROI score: 8.40
Net price: $17,604
Earnings 10y: $59,115
Acceptance: 87%

#10

University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT · Public

ROI score: 7.37
Net price: $25,097
Earnings 10y: $73,997
Acceptance: 52.4%

#11

Eastern Connecticut State University

Willimantic, CT · Public

ROI score: 6.70
Net price: $21,067
Earnings 10y: $56,469
Acceptance: 83%

#12

Southern Connecticut State University

New Haven, CT · Public

ROI score: 6.60
Net price: $20,857
Earnings 10y: $55,043
Acceptance: 91.5%

#13

Trinity College

Hartford, CT · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.52
Net price: $34,832
Earnings 10y: $90,779
Acceptance: 29.3%

#14

Wesleyan University

Middletown, CT · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 6.12
Net price: $30,177
Earnings 10y: $73,897
Acceptance: 16.5%

#15

University of Saint Joseph

West Hartford, CT · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.35
Net price: $27,989
Earnings 10y: $59,908
Acceptance: 78.6%

#16

Connecticut College

New London, CT · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.18
Net price: $36,175
Earnings 10y: $75,001
Acceptance: 37%

#17

Quinnipiac University

Hamden, CT · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.15
Net price: $40,675
Earnings 10y: $83,759
Acceptance: 72.2%

#18

University of Hartford

West Hartford, CT · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.02
Net price: $30,282
Earnings 10y: $60,823
Acceptance: 95.8%

#19

Fairfield University

Fairfield, CT · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.62
Net price: $48,095
Earnings 10y: $88,794
Acceptance: 33.3%

#20

University of Bridgeport

Bridgeport, CT · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.52
Net price: $27,807
Earnings 10y: $50,323
Acceptance: 83%

#21

Post University

Waterbury, CT · Private For-Profit

ROI score: 4.47
Net price: $21,634
Earnings 10y: $38,696
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#22

Albertus Magnus College

New Haven, CT · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.42
Net price: $34,028
Earnings 10y: $60,144
Acceptance: 59.3%

#23

University of New Haven

West Haven, CT · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.40
Net price: $34,192
Earnings 10y: $60,126
Acceptance: 60.4%

#24

Sacred Heart University

Fairfield, CT · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.06
Net price: $46,174
Earnings 10y: $75,059
Acceptance: 65.4%

#25

Goodwin University

East Hartford, CT · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 3.73
Net price: $29,249
Earnings 10y: $43,596
Acceptance: Open / not reported

How we picked this list

This list starts with Connecticut colleges, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 7.35 (11 public, 13 private).

Source transparency: every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard public data set. See our full methodology for the ROI formula, value grade rules and missing-data handling.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus in Waterbury, CT tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A+.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Connecticut colleges are in this list?

27 Connecticut colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.

Can I use this ranking as a final college decision?

Use it as a shortlist, not a final decision. The ranking compares school-wide federal data; you should still confirm program fit, aid letters, graduation path, transfer policies and current costs with each college.

University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus

University of Connecticut-Avery Point

University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus

University of Connecticut-Stamford

Yale University

Charter Oak State College

Connecticut State Community College

Central Connecticut State University

Western Connecticut State University

University of Connecticut

Eastern Connecticut State University

Southern Connecticut State University

Trinity College

Wesleyan University

University of Saint Joseph

Connecticut College

Quinnipiac University

University of Hartford

Fairfield University

University of Bridgeport

Post University

Albertus Magnus College

University of New Haven

Sacred Heart University

Goodwin University

How we picked this list

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FAQ