Most Affordable Colleges in Connecticut (2026)
Updated
Most Affordable Colleges in Connecticut lists 19 four-year nonprofit institutions in Connecticut. Schools are ordered by their average net price for families earning under $30,000, lowest first, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page.
Wesleyan University ranks 1st on this list, with an average net price of $4,871 for families earning under $30,000. Across the listed schools, the figure for families earning under $30,000 ranges from $4,871 to $38,691, with a median of $17,736.
The list includes 5 public and 14 private institutions. Holy Apostles College and Seminary posts the lowest average net price at $10,117, while Yale University ranks 57th on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.
University of Hartford reports the highest admission rate, admitting 96% of applicants.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years after completion | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wesleyan University · Middletown, CT | $72,119 | $30,177 | $4,871 | 16.5% |
| Wesleyan University ranks 1st on this list with an average net price of $4,871 for families earning under $30,000, and its graduates across all fields report median earnings of $72,119 four years after completing. | |||||
| 2 | Holy Apostles College and Seminary · Cromwell, CT | $39,168 | $10,117 | $10,117 | Not reported |
| Holy Apostles College and Seminary posts a six-year completion rate of 79% and an average net price of $10,117 for families earning under $30,000, ranking 2nd on this page. | |||||
| 3 | Trinity College · Hartford, CT | $83,645 | $34,832 | $11,054 | 29.3% |
| A private nonprofit university in Hartford, Trinity College admits 29% of applicants and carries an average net price of $11,054 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 4 | Connecticut College · New London, CT | $67,540 | $36,175 | $13,341 | 37.0% |
| Connecticut College ranks 1083rd on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions, alongside an average net price of $13,341 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 5 | Western Connecticut State University · Danbury, CT | $60,346 | $17,604 | $13,507 | 87.0% |
| Graduates of Western Connecticut State University earn a median of $60,346 four years after completing, and the school reports an average net price of $13,507 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 6 | Central Connecticut State University · New Britain, CT | $67,245 | $16,857 | $13,589 | 73.3% |
| Central Connecticut State University ranks 175th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions and shows a six-year completion rate of 48%. | |||||
| 7 | University of Connecticut · Storrs, CT | $78,925 | $25,097 | $15,193 | 52.4% |
| With an admission rate of 52%, University of Connecticut reports median earnings of $78,925 for its graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 8 | Yale University · New Haven, CT | $112,971 | $23,777 | $17,633 | 3.9% |
| Yale University admits 4% of applicants and reports an average net price of $17,633 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 9 | Eastern Connecticut State University · Willimantic, CT | $57,759 | $21,067 | $17,654 | 83.0% |
| Eastern Connecticut State University ranks 9th on this list, and its graduates across all fields earn a median of $57,759 four years after completing. | |||||
| 10 | Southern Connecticut State University · New Haven, CT | $59,787 | $20,857 | $17,736 | 91.5% |
| A public university in New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University posts a six-year completion rate of 50% and an average net price of $17,736 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 11 | University of Saint Joseph · West Hartford, CT | $73,035 | $27,989 | $24,563 | 78.6% |
| University of Saint Joseph reports median earnings of $73,035 for its graduates four years after completing, alongside an admission rate of 79%. | |||||
| 12 | University of Hartford · West Hartford, CT | $69,078 | $30,282 | $25,925 | 95.8% |
| An average net price of $25,925 for families earning under $30,000 accompanies a six-year completion rate of 54% at University of Hartford. | |||||
| 13 | Mitchell College · New London, CT | $44,062 | $30,260 | $26,485 | 94.7% |
| Mitchell College reports median earnings of $44,062 for its graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $26,485 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 14 | University of Bridgeport · Bridgeport, CT | $60,311 | $27,807 | $27,238 | 83.0% |
| University of Bridgeport admits 83% of applicants and shows a six-year completion rate of 41%. | |||||
| 15 | University of New Haven · West Haven, CT | $65,164 | $34,192 | $27,837 | 60.4% |
| With an average net price of $27,837 for families earning under $30,000, University of New Haven ranks 994th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions. | |||||
| 16 | Fairfield University · Fairfield, CT | $91,378 | $48,095 | $33,302 | 33.3% |
| Graduates of Fairfield University earn a median of $91,378 four years after completing, and the school admits 33% of applicants. | |||||
| 17 | Quinnipiac University · Hamden, CT | $84,363 | $40,675 | $33,649 | 72.2% |
| Quinnipiac University posts a six-year completion rate of 76% and an average net price of $33,649 for families earning under $30,000. | |||||
| 18 | Albertus Magnus College · New Haven, CT | $63,088 | $34,028 | $35,343 | 59.3% |
| Albertus Magnus College ranks 18th on this list, with median earnings of $63,088 for its graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 19 | Sacred Heart University · Fairfield, CT | $79,431 | $46,174 | $38,691 | 65.4% |
| Sacred Heart University reports an average net price of $38,691 for families earning under $30,000 and a six-year completion rate of 73%. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Schools are ordered by their average net price for families earning under $30,000, lowest first, as set out on Azimuth's methodology page. Median earnings figures reflect federally aided completers across all fields who were working and not enrolled four years after completing. The list does not adjust for who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between Wesleyan University and Holy Apostles College and Seminary is $5,246 for families earning under $30,000, and the spread from top to bottom is $33,820 for families earning under $30,000.