In this ranking, we examine top value universities and colleges in Connecticut.
As one of the smallest states in the U.S. with a total population less than half of New York City, it would be easy to assume that Connecticut has little to offer in the way of higher education. But you'd be wrong! Prepare to have your expectations shattered – from its comprehensive set of public universities to high-performing private colleges that are full of character (think Conn College and Wesleyan) – Connecticut produces best value universities in spades. And of course, Connecticut is also home to the prestigious Yale University, a top school by any standard and (according to our methodology) one of the highest scoring schools on any of our state rankings.
But doesn't a school like Yale, like most great universities, cost a lot of money to attend? You might be surprised by the kind of financial aid top schools provide deserving students. But you might also be surprised by how many affordable colleges – both public and private – offer a high quality education at a cheap price. Using a careful methodology (see below) we aimed to catalog and rank these "best value" universities, using metrics such as net price, selectivity/popularity, and graduation rate. In addition, check out our ranking of best online colleges in Connecticut.
Featured Online Programs
Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.
Most Affordable Colleges in Connecticut
Featured Online Programs
Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.
Methodology: Best Value Universities and Colleges in Connecticut
Graduation Rate: This indicator refers to the percentage of students who complete their degree within 150% of normal time (six years for a typical four-year degree program). Schools that perform well in this area have a track record of keeping students engaged and successful for their entire time on campus. We weighted this category 30% of the total and retrieved the information from College Navigator.
Net Price: In order to make sure that cost was still a factor in the ranking, we also considered overall net price as an indicator. Taken from data on College Navigator, "net price" is an approximate value that refers to the average amount of money a student could expect to pay each year after taking into account tuition, room and board, living expenses, scholarship awards, and financial aid packages. We weighted this category 25% of the total.
Acceptance Rate: Academically challenging, popular universities tend to be more selective and thus have a lower acceptance rate. In order to pinpoint those colleges that boast rigorous academics and also receive a large number of applications, we considered acceptance rate – the percentage of students out of the total number of applicants who receive an acceptance letter. We retrieved this information from College Navigator and weighted it 30% of the total.
20-Year Net Return on Investment: Taken from information on the website PayScale, this statistic provides a picture of how much students can expect to make after they graduate from a particular college. More specifically, the figure is calculated by taking the average income an alumnus will make over his or her first 20 years after graduation and subtracting the amount paid in tuition. Schools with a high ROI tend to be better at preparing their students for the job market. We weighted this category only 15% because data was not available for all colleges considered.
After adding all the points, we gave each university a final score out of 200. The schools below have scores ranging from 86 to 184, and each has something different to offer in terms of its cost, quality, and reputation. No one college is perfect (which is why the scores vary so much) but this ranking offers you a premier selection of universities to help get you started on your search for an education in Connecticut.
Sources:
College Navigator
Pay Scale
This concludes our ranking of best value Connecticut colleges and universities.
About the Author:
Iris Stone began her writing career as a freelance writer and researcher. She now owns and operates a writing and editing firm that works with clients all across the country. Her work has included articles related to education policy, colleges and universities, academic programs, and careers.
