2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut
Veterans have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
We analyzed 24 colleges and universities across Connecticut to determine which were the best for veterans and active service members. Our ranking is based on over 20 objective factors, including the school's overall quality, the number of GI Bill® recipients at the school, and the percentage of costs covered by the GI Bill®. We steer clear of subjective measures since they don't give a clear picture when determining how one school compares to another.
Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Featured schools near , edit
One Size Does Not Fit All
We've developed a number of other tools and rankings to help you make your college decision. Start by filtering this list by location or field of study and then explore our other rankings that feature schools great for different groups of students such as online students or returnings adults.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Top Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut
See which schools came out on top of our ranking:
Our analysis found Quinnipiac University to be the best school for veterans in Connecticut in this year’s ranking. Located in Hamden, Connecticut, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 2,983 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 240 of the 9,746 students enrolled at Quinnipiac were GI Bill® students, of which 159 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $19,374. On top of their other funding sources, 126 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Quinnipiac also claimed a spot on our Best Schools in Connecticut list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.
A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut list means Sacred Heart University is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. Sacred Heart is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fairfield, Connecticut. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 2,596 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 9,313 students enrolled at Sacred Heart, 137 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 96 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $19,537. To help with additional expenses, 35 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of New Haven. It ranked #3 on our 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut list. Located in West Haven, Connecticut, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1,901 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, University of New Haven supports 6,961 students, and 341 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 246 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $18,346. During this same period, 95 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. University of New Haven does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
The low student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
A rank of #4 on our Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut list means Albertus Magnus College is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and it awarded 448 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 63 of the 1,384 students enrolled at Albertus Magnus were GI Bill® students, of which 43 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $10,897. To help with additional expenses, 1 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Albertus Magnus does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
A rank of #5 on our Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut list means University of Connecticut is a great place for students working on their bachelor’s degree. UCONN is a public institution located in Storrs, Connecticut. The school has a large population, and it awarded 8,718 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 27,215 students enrolled at UCONN, 360 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 202 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $11,054.
The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. In addition to its great veterans ranking, UCONN is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Schools in Connecticut list.
Charter Oak State College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut list. New Britain, Connecticut is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 493 students in 2019-2020.
Of the 1,634 students enrolled at Charter Oak State College, 56 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 48 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,127. During this same period, 14 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
The low student loan default rate of 4.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Southern Connecticut State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut ranking. SCSU is a medium-sized public school situated in New Haven, Connecticut. It awarded 2,178 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 324 of the 9,331 students enrolled at SCSU were GI Bill® students, of which 226 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $10,233. To help with additional expenses, 1 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. SCSU does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Central Connecticut State University landed the #8 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut ranking. New Britain, Connecticut is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 2,530 students in 2019-2020.
Among the 10,652 students enrolled at CCSU, 318 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 176 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $7,921. CCSU does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
University of Saint Joseph ranked #9 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut list. USJ is a small private not-for-profit school situated in West Hartford, Connecticut. It awarded 837 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Of the 2,305 students enrolled at USJ, 29 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 22 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $10,252. On top of their other funding sources, 2 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. USJ does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, those pursuing a bachelor’s degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
University of Hartford did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #10. Located in West Hartford, Connecticut, the medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 1,823 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, UHart supports 6,493 students, and 102 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 66 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $15,401. In addition to receiving other benefits, 25 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Eastern Connecticut State University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #11. ECSU is located in Willimantic, Connecticut and, has a small student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,275 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Among the 4,644 students enrolled at ECSU, 139 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 81 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,347. In addition to receiving other benefits, 3 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
With a ranking of #12, Western Connecticut State University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut list. WestConn is located in Danbury, Connecticut and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,167 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Among the 5,246 students enrolled at WestConn, 129 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 85 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,503. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Wesleyan University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut ranking. Located in Middletown, Connecticut, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 1,194 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 3,053 students enrolled at Wesleyan U, 54 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 46 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $33,803. During this same period, 42 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. Wesleyan U not only placed well in our veterans ranking, but it is also #3 on our Best Schools in Connecticut list.
Yale University did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #14. This fairly large private not-for-profit school is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and it awarded 4,942 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 60 of the 12,060 students enrolled at Yale were GI Bill® students, of which 58 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $18,964. On top of their other funding sources, 29 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Yale also took the #1 spot in our Best Schools in Connecticut rankings.
With a ranking of #15, Fairfield University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut list. Fairfield U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fairfield, Connecticut. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 1,593 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, Fairfield U supports 5,513 students, and 43 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 31 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $20,209. To help with additional expenses, 10 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program.
With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. Fairfield U also took the #5 spot in our Best Schools in Connecticut rankings.
Manchester Community College ranked #16 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut list. MCC is a public institution located in Manchester, Connecticut. The school has a small population, and it awarded 571 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 4,448 students enrolled at MCC, 183 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 111 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,440. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Three Rivers Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut list. This small public school is located in Norwich, Connecticut, and it awarded 471 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, Three Rivers Community College supports 3,160 students, and 201 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 135 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,633. Three Rivers Community College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
With a ranking of #18, Post University did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut list. Post University is located in Waterbury, Connecticut and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1,708 bachelor’s degrees to qualified undergraduates.
Of the 13,844 students enrolled at Post University, 821 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 665 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,458. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.
Connecticut College came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut ranking. Located in New London, Connecticut, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 535 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Among the 1,737 students enrolled at Conn College, 7 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 5 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $21,631. To help with additional expenses, 2 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program.
The student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Conn College also made our Best Schools in Connecticut list, coming in at #4.
With a ranking of #20, University of Bridgeport did quite well on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut list. Located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 1,305 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, UBridgeport supports 4,155 students, and 87 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 62 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $14,485. In addition to receiving other benefits, 15 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.
Northwestern Connecticut Community College did quite well in the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #21. Northwestern Connecticut Community College is a small public school located in Winsted, Connecticut that handed out 139 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, NCCC supports 1,228 students, and 32 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 20 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $2,563.
Read full report on Northwestern Connecticut Community College
Capital Community College ranked #22 on this year’s Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut list. Located in Hartford, Connecticut, the small public school awarded 303 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
According to our most recent data, Capital Community College supports 2,715 students, and 89 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 51 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $2,231. Capital Community College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Trinity College landed the #23 spot on the 2021 Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut ranking. Trinity Bantams is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Hartford, Connecticut. It awarded 653 bachelor’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Of the 2,241 students enrolled at Trinity Bantams, 8 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 4 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $23,672. To help with additional expenses, 4 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program.
With a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. In addition to its best for vets ranking, and one of the reasons why the school is on the list, Trinity Bantams is ranked #2 for overall quality in Connecticut.
Mitchell College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for Veterans in Connecticut ranking. Located in New London, Connecticut, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 141 diplomas to qualified bachelor’s degree students in 2019-2020.
Our most recent data shows that 19 of the 599 students enrolled at Mitchell College were GI Bill® students, of which 10 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $28,017. In addition to receiving other benefits, 7 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Mitchell College does offer credit for military training for eligible students.
Best Colleges for Veterans in the New England Region
View Best Colleges for Veterans Nationwide >
All Majors and Fields of Study >
More Connecticut Rankings
Best Colleges in the New England Region
Explore all the Best Schools for Veterans in the New England Area or other specific states within that region.
| State |
|---|
| Vermont |
| Rhode Island |
| New Hampshire |
| Massachusetts |
| Maine |
Notes and References
Footnotes
*Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top 24 schools only.
**GI Bill® student total includes all chapters of the GI Bill® program (e.g., Post-9/11, Montgomery GI Bill, Reserve Education Assistance Program, and Veteran Readiness and Employment)
References
- 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).
- Veteran-specific data can be found at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
- 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%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
College Factual provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© College Factual – All Rights Reserved.