by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the graduate school options in Connecticut, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **20** programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual evaluated 20 graduate schools on more than 20 objective measures 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.
This is how starting salaries are distributed among the top-ranked graduate schools:
Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
Leading the list is Yale University, our #1 graduate school in Connecticut. Based in New Haven, CT, Yale University is a private not-for-profit institution. Yale University posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. In-state tuition and fees average $67,250. Yale University graduates report median early-career earnings of $74,578. Graduates carry a median of $14,357 in student loans.
The strong outcomes at University Of Connecticut earned it the #2 place in Connecticut. Based in Storrs, CT, University Of Connecticut is a public institution. University Of Connecticut posts a six-year graduation rate of 83%. In-state tuition and fees run about $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,784. Graduates carry a median of $23,637 in student loans.
Fairfield University came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Connecticut. Set in Fairfield, CT, Fairfield University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,400. Early-career graduates earn a median of $66,305. Typical student debt is $26,687.
You'll be in good company at Quinnipiac University, which ranked #4 this year. Quinnipiac University is a private not-for-profit school based in Hamden, CT. Quinnipiac University posts a six-year graduation rate of 76%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $55,480. Early-career graduates earn a median of $62,573. The median student debt is $25,926.
Sacred Heart University came in at #5 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Connecticut. Based in Fairfield, CT, Sacred Heart University is a private not-for-profit institution. Sacred Heart University posts a six-year graduation rate of 74%. In-state tuition and fees average $50,404. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,864 early in their careers. The median student debt is $25,831.
Wesleyan University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Middletown, CT, Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $70,042. Early-career graduates earn a median of $39,764. Graduates carry a median of $16,125 in student loans.
University Of New Haven came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in West Haven, CT, University Of New Haven is a private not-for-profit institution. University Of New Haven graduates 63% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $47,332. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $49,615. Students borrow a median of $26,244 to complete a degree here.
University Of Hartford landed the #8 spot in Connecticut this year. Based in West Hartford, CT, University Of Hartford is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,075. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $51,123. Graduates carry a median of $25,648 in student loans.
Saint Joseph College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Saint Joseph College is a private not-for-profit school based in West Hartford, CT. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,278. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $75,782. Graduates carry a median of $27,798 in student loans.
Trinity College landed the #10 spot in Connecticut this year. Trinity College is a private not-for-profit school based in Hartford, CT. Trinity College graduates 84% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $70,770 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,927. The median student debt is $23,667.
Central Connecticut State University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in New Britain, CT, Central Connecticut State University is a public institution. Central Connecticut State University graduates 48% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $13,050 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,550. Median early-career earnings reach $60,151. Students borrow a median of $24,340 to complete a degree here.
Southern Connecticut State University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Based in New Haven, CT, Southern Connecticut State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,442, while out-of-state students pay about $16,942. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,876 early in their careers. The median student debt is $24,660.
Western Connecticut State University did well this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Danbury, CT, Western Connecticut State University is a public institution. Western Connecticut State University graduates 52% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,401, compared with $16,901 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $47,559. Typical student debt is $25,332.
University Of Bridgeport ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Bridgeport, CT, University Of Bridgeport is a private not-for-profit institution. About 41% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,760. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $56,368. Typical student debt is $28,601.
Eastern Connecticut State University landed the #15 spot in Connecticut this year. Set in Willimantic, CT, Eastern Connecticut State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,928, compared with $17,426 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,573 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $24,990.
Charter Oak State College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Charter Oak State College is a public school based in New Britain, CT. Roughly 100% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,506. Graduates go on to earn a median of $62,864 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,584 to complete a degree here.
Albertus Magnus College came in at #17 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in New Haven, CT. Albertus Magnus College graduates 50% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $41,908. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,188 early in their careers. The median student debt is $36,919.
Goodwin College placed #18 among the best graduate schools in Connecticut. Based in East Hartford, CT, Goodwin College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,188. Median early-career earnings reach $52,724. Goodwin College students take on a median of $35,611 in debt.
Holy Apostles College And Seminary landed the #19 spot in Connecticut this year. Set in Cromwell, CT, Holy Apostles College And Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. About 15% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,580.
Post University ranked #20 on our 2027 list of the best graduate schools. Set 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,494. The median student debt is $35,364.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs 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.