Hidden Gem Colleges in Connecticut (2026)
Updated
This page lists 6 colleges in Connecticut. This list includes only colleges whose overall score is at or above the 50th percentile nationally and whose admission rate is above 50%; colleges without a reported admission rate are left out.
The colleges that qualify are ordered by overall score, highest first, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. University of Connecticut ranks 1st on this list and reports $78,925 in median earnings for its graduates four years after completing. The list includes 5 public and 1 private nonprofit institution.
83% of the listed schools are public, with 5 public and 1 private nonprofit institution. Central Connecticut State University posts the lowest average net price of $16,857. University of Connecticut reports the highest six-year completion rate of 83%.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years after completion | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Connecticut · Storrs, CT | $78,925 | $25,097 | $15,193 | 52.4% |
| University of Connecticut reports median earnings of $78,925 for its graduates four years after completing, the highest figure on this list. | |||||
| 2 | Central Connecticut State University · New Britain, CT | $67,245 | $16,857 | $13,589 | 73.3% |
| Central Connecticut State University carries an average net price of $16,857, the lowest among the six schools. | |||||
| 3 | Southern Connecticut State University · New Haven, CT | $59,787 | $20,857 | $17,736 | 91.5% |
| Southern Connecticut State University admits 91% of applicants, the most open admission rate on the page. | |||||
| 4 | Western Connecticut State University · Danbury, CT | $60,346 | $17,604 | $13,507 | 87.0% |
| Western Connecticut State University shows a six-year completion rate of 52% alongside median earnings of $60,346 four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | University of Bridgeport · Bridgeport, CT | $60,311 | $27,807 | $27,238 | 83.0% |
| University of Bridgeport, a private nonprofit university in Bridgeport, reports an average net price of $27,238 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 6 | Eastern Connecticut State University · Willimantic, CT | $57,759 | $21,067 | $17,654 | 83.0% |
| Eastern Connecticut State University ranks 6th on this list and posts a six-year completion rate of 58%. | |||||
How this list is ordered
This list includes only colleges whose overall score is at or above the 50th percentile nationally and whose admission rate is above 50%; colleges without a reported admission rate are left out. The colleges that qualify are ordered by overall score, highest first, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. The earnings figures cited below are medians for federally aided completers of each institution across all fields, measured four years after completing, among those working and not enrolled. The list does not adjust for cost or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. 5 of the 6 schools are public and 1 is private.