Best College ROI in Ct 2026
23 colleges in Ct analyzed for return on investment. Wesleyan University leads with a ROI Score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY).
Ct has 23 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 6 public institutions and 17 private ones. Across the 23 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $24K and earn $87K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
100% of Ct colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Wesleyan University (median $95K on Computer Science).
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Ct
Wesleyan University
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Ct's ROI rankings on its Computer Science program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $17K in median debt.
Central Connecticut State University
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Connecticut College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer Science. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $21K.
Top 20 Colleges by ROI in Ct
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wesleyan University(private) | Computer Science | $17K | $95K | A (97) |
| 2 | Central Connecticut State University(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 3 | Connecticut College(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 4 | Quinnipiac University(private) | Computer Systems Analysis | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 5 | United States Coast Guard Academy(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 6 | Yale University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 7 | Fairfield University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 8 | Sacred Heart University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 9 | Trinity College(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 10 | University of Connecticut(public) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 11 | University of New Haven(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 12 | University of Saint Joseph(private) | Computer Science | $23K | $95K | A (95) |
| 13 | Eastern Connecticut State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 14 | University of Bridgeport(private) | Computer Science | $25K | $95K | A (94) |
| 15 | Post University(private) | Computer and Information Sciences | $27K | $95K | A (93) |
| 16 | Southern Connecticut State University(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $29K | $95K | A (92) |
| 17 | Albertus Magnus College(private) | Mathematics | $33K | $78K | A (90) |
| 18 | University of Hartford(private) | Mechanical Engineering | $22K | $92K | A (85) |
| 19 | Goodwin University(private) | Industrial Production Technologies | $33K | $65K | A (80) |
| 20 | Mitchell College(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $27K | $65K | B (78) |
College debt and earnings data for Ct is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wesleyan University has the best ROI in Ct with a score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer Science, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $17K in median debt.
Across 23 Ct colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $24K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $87K.
Wesleyan University graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer Science). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Ct has 23 colleges in our database (6 public, 17 private). Of the 23 with reportable ROI, 100% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).