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Why This Matters

  • 29 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES IN CONNECTICUT

    According to College Navigator, the four-year colleges in Connecticut include 10 public and 19 private non-profit options.

  • $15,612 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES

    The average student in Connecticut spends $15,612 per year on in-state public college tuition and related fees, based on information provided by College Board.

  • $15,330 AVERAGE FINANCIAL AID

    In the U.S., full-time undergraduate students attending college in 2021-22 received an average of $15,330 per year in financial aid.

Our Research

This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar colleges in Connecticut. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

The colleges on our list are accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) — this organization examines the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of postsecondary education programs in the northeastern United States.

We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission standards, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the resources and services provided for on-campus students. Then, we used this information to calculate the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.

Online College Programs That Might Interest You

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

The Top 50 Colleges in Connecticut

Best Colleges In Connecticut
01

Yale University
01

University of Connecticut
01

Trinity College
01

Wesleyan University
01

Connecticut College
01

Fairfield University
01

Quinnipiac University
01

University of Connecticut at Stamford
01

Sacred Heart University
01

Central Connecticut State University
01

University of Connecticut at Avery Point
01

University of Connecticut at Waterbury
01

Southern Connecticut State University
01

Charter Oak State College
01

University of Saint Joseph
01

Eastern Connecticut State University
01

University of New Haven
01

Western Connecticut State University
01

University of Hartford
01

University of Bridgeport
01

Albertus Magnus College
01

University of Connecticut at Hartford
01

Goodwin University

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What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Connecticut

Graduates from any one of Connecticut’s colleges have plenty of employment opportunities available. The five largest industries in the state, as of May 2022, are office and administrative support occupations, management, sales, food preparation and serving, and transportation and material moving.

Also, CareerOneStop reports that the positions requiring a bachelor’s degree expected to see the most growth in Connecticut are logisticians, marine engineers and naval architects, animal scientists, medical and health services managers, and data scientists.

Recent college students just entering the Connecticut workforce can look to numerous employers to start their careers, including the aerospace company Pratt & Whitney and the Foxwoods Resort & Casino. Hartford Hospital is an excellent option for those who want a career helping others, while Pfizer’s work in developing vaccines may interest biochemistry majors. ESPN is another large employer in the state — its headquarters is located in Bristol.

What’s Next?

Paying for college isn’t easy. Fortunately, the federal government, Connecticut’s state government, and various institutions make financial aid readily available to students seeking bachelor’s degrees. Here are some resources you can use to find financial aid in Connecticut.

  • Connecticut Office of Higher Education. This office provides a directory of student financial aid programs to help applicants find the resources they need, including directions for obtaining federal aid and general information on paying for college.
  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Provided by the U.S. Department of Education, FAFSA is the main form students use to apply for financial aid for college. To determine if you’re eligible for aid, submit a completed FAFSA form online.
  • CareerOneStop Scholarship Finder. This tool will show you available scholarships, grants, and loans and can be filtered by state and degree type. It includes information such as dollar amounts, how to apply, qualifications, deadlines, and contact details.

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