Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Connecticut
Colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Connecticut13 schools
13 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Connecticut.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Yale University
New Haven, CT · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#1 in Connecticut
- Pays back in about 1.8 years
- Earnings $100,533 ten years out
- 2
University of Connecticut-Avery Point
Groton, CT · PublicTop 12% for earnings
- Pays back in about 2.2 years
- Earnings $73,997 ten years out
- 3
Trinity College
Hartford, CT · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 4% for earnings
- Pays back in about 3.3 years
- Earnings $90,779 ten years out
- 4
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT · PublicHonor RollTop 9% for graduation
- Pays back in about 3.9 years
- Earnings $73,997 ten years out
- 5
Charter Oak State College
New Britain, CT · PublicHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Pays back in about 4.0 years
- Earnings $64,209 ten years out
- 6
Quinnipiac University
Hamden, CT · Private nonprofitTop 6% for earnings
- Pays back in about 4.6 years
- Earnings $83,759 ten years out
- 7
Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Pays back in about 4.7 years
- Earnings $73,897 ten years out
- 8
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT · Private nonprofitHonor RollTop 5% for earnings
- Pays back in about 4.8 years
- Earnings $88,794 ten years out
- 9
Connecticut College
New London, CT · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A
- Pays back in about 5.4 years
- Earnings $75,001 ten years out
- 10
Sacred Heart University
Fairfield, CT · Private nonprofitTop 11% for earnings
- Pays back in about 6.9 years
- Earnings $75,059 ten years out
- 11Tie
University of Saint Joseph
West Hartford, CT · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Pays back in about 9.7 years
- Earnings $59,908 ten years out
- 11Tie
University of Hartford
West Hartford, CT · Private nonprofitGood: Compass grade B
- Pays back in about 9.7 years
- Earnings $60,823 ten years out
- 13
Eastern Connecticut State University
Willimantic, CT · PublicGood: Compass grade B
- Pays back in about 10.4 years
- Earnings $56,469 ten years out
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yale University | $23,777 | $12,975 | $100,533 | 96% |
| University of Connecticut-Avery Point | $13,807 | $21,500 | $73,997 | 62% |
| Trinity College | $34,832 | $23,000 | $90,779 | 84% |
| University of Connecticut | $25,097 | $21,500 | $73,997 | 83% |
| Charter Oak State College | $15,815 | $18,683 | $64,209 | 67% |
| Quinnipiac University | $40,675 | $26,000 | $83,759 | 76% |
| Wesleyan University | $30,177 | $17,000 | $73,897 | 93% |
| Fairfield University | $48,095 | $26,000 | $88,794 | 84% |
| Connecticut College | $36,175 | $23,500 | $75,001 | 82% |
| Sacred Heart University | $46,174 | $25,000 | $75,059 | 73% |
| University of Saint Joseph | $27,989 | $27,000 | $59,908 | 64% |
| University of Hartford | $30,282 | $27,000 | $60,823 | 54% |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | $21,067 | $24,250 | $56,469 | 58% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 5
- Arizona 3
- Arkansas 5
- California 54
- Colorado 6
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 15
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 19
- Indiana 19
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 5
- Louisiana 3
- Maine 7
- Maryland 14
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 19
- Minnesota 17
- Missouri 13
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 16
- New York 67
- North Carolina 15
- Ohio 28
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 9
- Pennsylvania 54
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 6
- Tennessee 7
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 5
- Virginia 19
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 13