Southern Connecticut State University

Southern Connecticut State University's program mix is anchored in health and applied professional fields — a signature consistent with its identity as a regional public university serving southern Connecticut. Health represents the largest share of degree output, with Business accounting for 14% of graduates, followed by Education at 8% and Social Sciences at 6%.

The most popular programs by graduate volume include Business Administration (228 graduates), General Studies (159 graduates), Psychology, General (125 graduates), and Nursing (115 graduates), reflecting the university's broad reach across health, education, and social-services fields. The strongest earnings outcomes at Southern Connecticut State University are concentrated in business and health-adjacent programs.

Nursing leads on early-career pay, with 115 graduates earning median earnings of $98,870 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks Nursing #87 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business Administration follows, with 228 graduates earning $63,310 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks Business Administration #196 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Business Administration stands out as the program combining meaningful cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key driver of the university's aggregate earnings outcomes. For context on how Azimuth evaluates programs, see [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).

Several of Southern Connecticut State University's largest programs — including Business Administration and Psychology, General — are pathways where a meaningful share of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, meaning four-year earnings figures undercount the longer-term trajectory for those students. Programs in business administration and health sciences, by contrast, are more direct-to-workforce pathways where early-career earnings reflect labor-market outcomes more fully.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with regional and national hiring trends across 31 programs serving roughly 1,631 students annually.

Southern Connecticut State University's published cost of attendance is $29,673. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $17,736, middle-income families pay around $19,437, and higher-income families pay approximately $27,809.

Azimuth ranks Southern Connecticut State University #674 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Southern Connecticut State University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside state and institutional aid. The university's public tuition structure and aid availability help keep net prices moderate relative to headline cost, particularly for lower-income families.

Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and demonstrated financial need is considered in aid packaging. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $22,250.

Families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $23,770; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $59,787, median federal debt of $22,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $251 under standard ten-year repayment.

For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Southern Connecticut State University earn median 4-year earnings of $59,787, placing Southern Connecticut State University in the 45.1 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,981 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Southern Connecticut State University in the 78.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Southern Connecticut State University #657 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program concentration in Health fields shapes much of this earnings profile, with graduates entering fields that carry consistent regional demand in CT's labor market.

The program lineup reflects Southern Connecticut State University's health-anchored academic identity. Business Administration stands out as the program combining strong cohort scale with solid early-career pay, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall earnings picture.

Business Administration, the largest program by graduate count with 228 graduates, delivers median earnings of $63,310 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #196 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). General Studies follows with 159 graduates earning $53,411, and Azimuth ranks it #82 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Programs in Business account for 14% of degrees, with Education representing 8% and Social Sciences contributing 6% — a mix that channels graduates into stable, in-demand roles across education, health, and public-sector careers in southern CT.