Eastern Connecticut State University

Eastern Connecticut State University's cost of attendance is $31,983. Net price by income band reflects the institution's public-tuition structure and need-based aid availability: low-income families pay approximately $17,654, middle-income families pay around $19,340, and higher-income families pay approximately $24,346.

Azimuth ranks Eastern Connecticut State University #742 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.

Eastern Connecticut State University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside state and institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages.

The institution's affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), and understanding the gap between published cost and what families actually pay is essential to evaluating long-term value. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,250, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $21,628; 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 $57,759, median federal debt of $24,250 projects to a monthly payment of about $274 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 Eastern Connecticut State University earn median 4-year earnings of $57,759, placing Eastern Connecticut State University in the 32.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn at roughly the same level as similar students at comparable institutions, placing Eastern Connecticut State University in the 55.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Eastern Connecticut State University #849 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Eastern Connecticut State University's concentration in business and professional fields.

Psychology, General is the largest program with 86 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $51,748, representing 1.0× the national benchmark for the field. Business Administration and Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General follow as substantial enrollment clusters, with Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $61,190 — 1.0× the benchmark.

Communication and Media Studies and Criminology round out the top five, with Communication and Media Studies graduates earning $53,673 and Criminology graduates earning $52,942. This program mix — anchored in Business — supports consistent mid-career earnings across a broad student population and positions Eastern Connecticut State University as a reliable pathway to stable professional outcomes in Connecticut's regional labor market.

Eastern Connecticut State University's program mix is anchored in business and applied professional fields, reflecting the institution's regional public-university identity. Psychology, General is the largest program with 86 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, Communication and Media Studies, and Criminology.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 974 students annually, the institution's strength concentrates in business, management, and workforce-aligned fields where employers in the Northeast actively recruit. The earnings pattern reflects this applied-professional orientation.

Biology, General leads with median earnings of $62,726 four years after enrollment, followed by Social Work at $61,908, Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General at $61,190, and Sociology at $55,084. Among the most popular fields, Psychology, General graduates earn $51,748, while Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General graduates earn $61,190 and Communication and Media Studies graduates earn $53,673, demonstrating that the largest cohorts align with solid early-career outcomes.

The program portfolio emphasizes direct workforce entry rather than graduate-school-dependent pathways. Business, accounting, management, and applied technology fields dominate the graduate output, positioning Eastern Connecticut State University as a practical choice for students seeking stable employment and early earnings growth in regional labor markets.

The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these applied-professional fields align with regional and national workforce demand.