by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Connecticut, narrowing things down is no easy task. This list ranks **15** graduate schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 15 graduate schools using more than 20 objective factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
The top-ranked graduate schools span the following early-career salary range:
Here are the top-ranked graduate schools:
No school ranked higher than Yale University this year in Connecticut. Located in New Haven, CT, Yale University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,250. Graduates go on to earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
Out of the 15 graduate schools in Connecticut in this year's ranking, University Of Connecticut landed the #2 spot. This public school is set in Storrs, CT. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, compared with $43,712 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,784 early in their careers. University Of Connecticut students take on a median of $23,637 in debt.
The strong outcomes at Fairfield University earned it the #3 place in Connecticut. Fairfield University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fairfield, CT. Fairfield University graduates 84% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $58,400. Graduates go on to earn a median of $66,305 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,687 to complete a degree here.
Out of the 15 graduate schools in Connecticut in this year's ranking, Quinnipiac University landed the #4 spot. Quinnipiac University is a private not-for-profit school based in Hamden, CT. Quinnipiac University graduates 76% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,480. Quinnipiac University graduates report median early-career earnings of $62,573. Quinnipiac University students take on a median of $25,926 in debt.
Sacred Heart University came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Connecticut. Set in Fairfield, CT, Sacred Heart University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Students from in state pay about $50,404 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $62,864. Students borrow a median of $25,831 to complete a degree here.
Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #6 position. Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit school based in Middletown, CT. Wesleyan University graduates 93% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $70,042. Wesleyan University graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,764. The median student debt is $16,125.
University Of New Haven did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in West Haven, CT, University Of New Haven is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of New Haven posts a six-year graduation rate of 63%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,332. University Of New Haven graduates report median early-career earnings of $49,615. Typical student debt is $26,244.
University Of Hartford ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in West Hartford, CT, University Of Hartford is a private not-for-profit institution. About 58% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $49,075. University Of Hartford graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,123. University Of Hartford students take on a median of $25,648 in debt.
Trinity College placed #9 among the best graduate schools in Connecticut. Set in Hartford, CT, Trinity College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $70,770. Graduates go on to earn a median of $52,927 early in their careers. The median student debt is $23,667.
Central Connecticut State University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Based in New Britain, CT, Central Connecticut State University is a public institution. Central Connecticut State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 48%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,050, with out-of-state students paying around $16,550. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $60,151. Typical student debt is $24,340.
Saint Joseph College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Located in West Hartford, CT, Saint Joseph College is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Joseph College graduates 64% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $47,278. Saint Joseph College graduates report median early-career earnings of $75,782. Students borrow a median of $27,798 to complete a degree here.
Southern Connecticut State University landed the #12 spot in Connecticut this year. Southern Connecticut State University is a public school based in New Haven, CT. Southern Connecticut State University posts a six-year graduation rate of 50%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,442, compared with $16,942 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,876. The median student debt is $24,660.
Western Connecticut State University came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Danbury, CT, Western Connecticut State University is a public institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,401, with out-of-state students paying around $16,901. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $47,559. Students borrow a median of $25,332 to complete a degree here.
University Of Bridgeport ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. University Of Bridgeport is a private not-for-profit school based in Bridgeport, CT. The six-year graduation rate is 41%. Students from in state pay about $35,760 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,368. University Of Bridgeport students take on a median of $28,601 in debt.
Eastern Connecticut State University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Willimantic, CT. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,928, with out-of-state students paying around $17,426. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,573. Typical student debt is $24,990.
Charter Oak State College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in New Britain, CT. The six-year graduation rate is 100%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,506. Median early-career earnings reach $62,864. Charter Oak State College students take on a median of $23,584 in debt.
Albertus Magnus College landed the #17 spot in Connecticut this year. Located in New Haven, CT, Albertus Magnus College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,908. Albertus Magnus College graduates report median early-career earnings of $50,188. Typical student debt is $36,919.
Goodwin College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Set in East Hartford, CT, Goodwin College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,188. Median early-career earnings reach $52,724. The median student debt is $35,611.
Post University came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Based in Waterbury, CT, Post University is a private for-profit institution. Post University graduates 24% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,922 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,494 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $35,364 to complete a degree here.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
See our data sources and methodologies.