There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges in Connecticut ranking is part of that endeavor.
We analyzed 18 colleges and universities across Connecticut to determine which ones have the best bachelor's degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Better Early-Career Average Salaries
The average early-career salary of those graduating with a bachelor's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. A bachelor's degree holder from a school in Connecticut makes an average starting salary of $42,551, but the students who attended schools in the top 18 of our list make an average of $43,440.
Starting Salary ( 32996 to 51787 )
Student Loan Borrowing
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their bachelor's so we factor that into our rankings as well.
During their time at college, bachelor's degree seekers from schools in Connecticut take out an average of $25,342.
The average amount taken out in student loans for graduates at a particular school may be crippling for those who earn less than average wages after graduation.
Additional Ranking Factors We Use
Our Best Bachelor's Degree Schools considers other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt.
These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Are you more interested in the top bachelor's degree schools in your area? Try narrowing this list by location. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Yale University tops this year’s ranking as the best school for bachelor’s degrees in Connecticut for overall quality. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, the fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 1,431 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Yale make an average of $56,209 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $15,712 in student loans.
A rank of #2 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in Connecticut list means University of Connecticut is a great place for students working on their degree. UCONN is a public institution located in Storrs, Connecticut. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5,991 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from UCONN is $43,726 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $24,269 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $416 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Trinity College. The school came in at #3 in Connecticut on this year’s best bachelor’s degree schools ranking. Trinity Bantams is located in Hartford, Connecticut and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 646 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $44,806 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $22,603 after getting their degree.
A rank of #4 on our Best Bachelor’s Degree in Connecticut list means Fairfield University is a great place for students working on their degree. Located in Fairfield, Connecticut, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1,066 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $49,312 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $26,665 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $598 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Out of the 18 bachelor’s degree schools in Connecticut that were part of this year’s ranking, Connecticut College landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in New London, Connecticut, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 489 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $41,300 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $23,111 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $516 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
With a ranking of #6, Quinnipiac University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Connecticut list. Located in Hamden, Connecticut, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1,900 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Quinnipiac make an average of $43,924 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,975 after getting their degree. This translates to an average monthly payment of $884 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Central Connecticut State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking. New Britain, Connecticut is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,906 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from CCSU go into careers with an average salary of $44,569 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $24,602 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $165 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
University of New Haven came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking. University of New Haven is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in West Haven, Connecticut. It awarded 1,055 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from University of New Haven is $38,468 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $26,593 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $596 for a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Saint Joseph came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking. USJ is located in West Hartford, Connecticut and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 201 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $73,150 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $27,800. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $459.
Sacred Heart University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #10. Sacred Heart University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Fairfield, Connecticut that handed out 1,407 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Sacred Heart make an average of $41,773 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,963 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $657.
Southern Connecticut State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #11. New Haven, Connecticut is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,719 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from SCSU make an average of $34,486 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $25,138. Average monthly loan payments are around $207 for a 10-year repayment plan.
With a ranking of #12, Post University did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Connecticut list. Post University is located in Waterbury, Connecticut and has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1,126 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Post University is $43,011 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $38,498.
University of Hartford ranked #13 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Connecticut list. Located in West Hartford, Connecticut, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1,025 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,907 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $27,055 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $591 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Eastern Connecticut State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #14. ECSU is a public institution located in Willimantic, Connecticut. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1,013 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $36,240 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $24,654 after getting their degree. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $216.
Charter Oak State College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Connecticut list. Charter Oak State College is located in New Britain, Connecticut and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 497 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from Charter Oak State College is $46,555 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,297.
Western Connecticut State University landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking. Located in Danbury, Connecticut, the small public school awarded 1,035 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a bachelor’s degree from WestConn is $36,796 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $25,403 in student loans. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $242.
Albertus Magnus College landed the #17 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 226 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Albertus Magnus make an average of $32,811 a year. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $38,161 after getting their degree.
With a ranking of #18, University of Bridgeport did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Connecticut list. Bridgeport, Connecticut is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 689 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UBridgeport make an average of $34,871 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $29,003 in student loans. Average monthly loan payments are around $258 for a 10-year repayment plan.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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