Trinity College combines selective liberal arts education with exceptional post-graduation earnings outcomes. As a Selective Achiever, the institution delivers strong economic returns while serving a more privileged student population, with graduates earning $27,713 above the peer median annually.
With top-tier performance, driven by strong long-term earnings relative to educational investment
With modestly below average performance, reflecting higher costs and limited financial aid reach
With above average performance, reflecting moderate success in converting access into earnings growth
With above average performance, reflecting moderate success in converting access into earnings growth
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisTrinity College delivers exceptional earnings outcomes relative to its peer group and program mix. Graduates earn a median of $90,779 ten years after enrollment, ranking at the 97th percentile nationally among all four-year institutions.
This places Trinity among the highest-earning institutions we track for post-graduation income levels. Earnings range from $64,313 at the 25th percentile to $139,476 at the 75th percentile, reflecting strong outcomes across diverse career paths within the liberal arts framework.
Students seeking a prestigious liberal arts education with strong earning potential, particularly those interested in economics, politics, and humanities. Best for families comfortable with higher costs for selective academics and excellent post-graduation outcomes.
Trinity College admits 33.5% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 3 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places Trinity in the Selective tier for admission competitiveness, requiring strong but not exceptional academic credentials for admission consideration. The peer median admission rate of 70.6% highlights Trinity's significantly more selective approach compared to typical four-year institutions, making it notably more competitive than most colleges nationally.
This level of selectivity means that students with solid academic records—including strong GPAs, rigorous coursework, and competitive test scores—have reasonable admission prospects, though acceptance is not guaranteed. For prospective students, Trinity's admission rate suggests building a balanced college list that includes less selective options with similar academic quality and career outcomes. The sections below provide guidance on academic expectations and alternative schools that deliver comparable post-graduation results with more accessible admission processes.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Trinity College's published cost of attendance reaches $83,090 annually, including $67,420 in tuition, $17,990 for room and board, and $1,000 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $35,009 after financial aid, representing $48,081 in average aid savings from the sticker price. This substantial discount reflects Trinity's commitment to making education accessible despite high published costs.
Trinity's average net price of $35,009 exceeds the peer median of $27,143 by $7,866, indicating higher costs than comparable institutions even after financial aid. The significant gap between sticker price and average net cost demonstrates how financial aid targeting affects different income groups. Net prices range dramatically from $16,202 for middle-low income families to $46,149 for high-income families, creating a progressive cost structure where lower-income families receive substantial aid while higher-income families pay closer to full price.
Applied Economics.
88 graduates
Algebra and Number Theory.
18 graduates
Biology, General.
25 graduates
Applied/Public Sociology.
14 graduates
Education Policy Analysis.
32 graduates
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Union College Higher acceptance rate (10.3 percentage points higher) with similar program focus and located 97 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 44% | $88,604 | Compare |
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Trinity College hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/trinity-college/analysis.
Exceptional earnings with selective liberal arts education
Trinity College ranks #475 nationally in Azimuth's comprehensive analysis, with composite performance at the 70.9th percentile. Located in Hartford, Connecticut, this medium-sized private institution maintains selective admission standards with a 33.5% acceptance rate while delivering exceptional post-graduation earnings outcomes.
Trinity enrolls 15.2% Pell-eligible students and 17.8% first-generation students, placing it below typical access measures for selective institutions. Graduates earn a median of $90,779 ten years after enrollment, placing Trinity in the 97th percentile nationally for long-term earnings.
This positions Trinity as a Selective Achiever, an institution that enrolls fewer low-income students while delivering strong post-graduation outcomes. Compared to a peer median of $63,066, graduates earn $27,713 more annually, demonstrating substantial earnings advantages despite the institution's limited low-income access profile.
Trinity College graduates demonstrate strong earnings growth over their early career trajectory. Median earnings rise from $67,628 six years after enrollment to $85,907 at eight years and $90,779 at ten years, representing 34.2% growth from the six-year mark. These outcomes are based on a ten-year cohort of 149 graduates, providing confidence in the reported figures despite the institution's smaller size.
Graduates earn around the national average relative to expectations, with earnings performance at the 43.1st percentile for uplift measures. Low-income graduates earn $65,500, positioning Trinity favorably for economic mobility outcomes among students from lower-income backgrounds. The substantial gap between the 25th percentile ($64,313) and 75th percentile ($139,476) earnings represents a 2.2:1 ratio, reflecting meaningful variation in career outcomes. Approximately 19.8% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating balanced preparation for both advanced education and direct workforce entry across Trinity's liberal arts programs.
Trinity College offers 7 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for comprehensive analysis. Applied Economics ranks #9 nationally and #2 in Connecticut, producing 88 graduates with exceptional median earnings of $112,699 and a value score of 96.0, making it one of the institution's flagship programs. American Government and Politics ranks #173 nationally and #3 in Connecticut, graduating 88 students with median earnings of $42,235.
Neuroanatomy ranks #31 nationally and #1 in Connecticut, graduating 43 students with median earnings of $44,823. Education Policy Analysis ranks #17 nationally and #1 in Connecticut, with 32 graduates earning $47,260. English Language and Literature ranks #112 nationally and #4 in Connecticut, graduating 34 students with median earnings of $43,128. Psychology ranks #200 nationally and #4 in Connecticut, while Biology graduates 25 students annually with median earnings of $52,179, reflecting the institution's strong liberal arts foundation across multiple disciplines.
Bryant University Higher acceptance rate (32.1 percentage points higher) and located 60 miles away; similar graduate earnings | RI | 66% | $90,008 | Compare |
Fairfield University Higher acceptance rate (11.5 percentage points higher) and located 50 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CT | 45% | $88,794 | Compare |
George Washington University Higher acceptance rate (10 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | DC | 44% | $90,873 | Compare |
Clarkson University Higher acceptance rate (43.6 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | NY | 77% | $89,696 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colby College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#477 ranked) | ME | 7% | $80,490 | #477 | Compare |
Concordia University-Saint Paul Similar quality tier (#480 ranked) | MN | 75% | $59,871 | #480 | Compare |
Kettering University Similar quality tier (#481 ranked) | MI | 79% | $94,823 | #481 | Compare |
Rose-Hulman Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier (#485 ranked) | IN | 73% | $101,253 | #485 | Compare |
King University Similar quality tier (#467 ranked) | TN | 54% | $59,831 | #467 | Compare |
