Central Connecticut State University vs Fairfield University
Side-by-side college ROI comparison from College Scorecard data
Verdict
Central Connecticut State University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Fairfield University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Central Connecticut State University at $25,987 vs Fairfield University at $25,797. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $60,650 vs $61,200.
| Metric | Central Connecticut State University | Fairfield University |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation Rate | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| School Type | Public | Private |
| State | Ct | Ct |
| Avg Median Debt Average median debt across all tracked majors | $25,987 | $25,797* |
| Avg 1yr Earnings Average first-year earnings across all tracked majors | $60,650 | $61,200* |
| Majors Tracked | 20 | 20 |
| Best ROI Major | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (96/100)* | Computer and Information Sciences (95/100) |
| Best Major Debt | $22,369 | $22,093* |
| Best Major 1yr Earnings | $95,000 | $95,000 |
Central Connecticut State University has a 100.0% graduation rate compared to Fairfield University at 100.0%. Average median debt: Central Connecticut State University at $25,987 vs Fairfield University at $25,797. Average first-year post-graduation earnings: $60,650 vs $61,200.
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Completion rates run close at the two schools: 100.0% versus 100.0%. When graduation probability is comparable across both options, the decision comes down to cost and post-graduation earnings rather than degree-completion risk.
Debt loads run similar between the two schools — averages of $25,797 and $25,987 respectively. With debt comparable, the financial decision essentially reduces to the earnings side: which degree, from which school, produces the better post-graduation income trajectory.
Median first-year earnings are roughly comparable between the schools — $60,650 and $61,200. With earnings close, the financial comparison turns mostly on the cost side: total debt at graduation is the lever, since the earnings denominator essentially nets out.
Both schools sit in Ct, which simplifies the in-state-vs-out-of-state tuition question and aligns the regional labor markets students will enter post-graduation. Cross-school comparisons within the same state should weight program mix and employer-pipeline depth heavily — the cost-of-living and labor-market backdrop is effectively held constant, so program-level differences are the differentiator.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, 2026.