As more people move into higher education, institutions across the country are providing a variety of educational avenues to meet the increasing need. This guide covers higher education across the state of Connecticut, including opportunities, costs, and jobs outlook. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), Connecticut maintains 43 universities, of which nine are four-year public institutions, 18 are nonprofit private institutions, and four are for-profit. Additionally, Connecticut is home to 12 public, two-year institutions.
Between the two- and four-year programs, Connecticut schools train students in a variety of professions, including web development and software engineering, business and operations analysis, and personal care and healthcare systems. In addition to lists of the best online colleges in the state and the most affordable online colleges in Connecticut, this page also provides information regarding scholarships and financial aid opportunities for state residents. As you consider a college education, look to Connecticut as a center of educational opportunity.
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Overview of Online Colleges in Connecticut
A Brief Overview of Higher Education in Connecticut
As of 2016, nearly 200,000 students were enrolled in higher education in Connecticut. College enrollment has fluctuated over the past decade as students face tough financial pressures. Trends in Higher Education states that tuition costs have doubled from the 2004-2005 academic year to the 2017-2018 academic year, across both two- and four-year programs. The University of Connecticut has faced a similar trajectory: between 2007-2008 and 2017-2018, tuition rose by over 60% across the board, with in-state tuition rising from $8,842 to $14,880, and out-of-state tuition rising from $22,786 to $36,948.[dataviz-stats public="9" non-profit="18" for-profit="4"]In an effort to defray costs, the state of Connecticut provides grants and tuition waivers for undergraduates. The National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs (NASSGAP) records that need-based, in-state grants in 2015-2016 amounted to $29,534,587 in Connecticut, as tuition waivers forgave over $104,000,000 in the same year. Connecticut also provides special grant opportunities for minorities interested in teaching, totaling $252,500 in incentives during 2015-2016. Even with assistance, students in Connecticut face high costs when it comes to a quality education, and no in-state loan forgiveness program currently exists.Connecticut's Higher Education System Data and Trends Report elaborates on the evolving student body statewide. While enrollment numbers fluctuate, minority engagement has increased in Connecticut education over the past decade. The number of African-American students has risen consistently from 18,000 in 2008 to around 24,000 in 2017, while the number of students of Latino/a descent jumped sharply from around 16,000 to just over 29,000. Overall, minorities currently amount to 35.2% of all Connecticut's college enrollees.
Higher Education in Connecticut
Featured Online Programs
The State of Online Higher Education in Connecticut
In the state of Connecticut, online education is still relatively new: an average of 17.4% students participated in distance learning in Connecticut last year, compared to 29.7% nationwide. Though student enrollment in online colleges in Connecticut is currently low, this area of education grew between 2012-2015 to 17.7%, higher than the national average growth of 11%. These statistics demonstrate the increasing priority of online learning across Connecticut's institutions and the added attention to incoming distance students. Of those enrolled in distance learning in Connecticut, 58% live in-state, 41% out-of-state, and only 1% outside of the United States.[dataviz-nces online="6.8" undergrad="77.7" in-state="53.7"]
Tuition Breaks for Out-of-State Students
For potential students searching for online or on-campus colleges in Connecticut, opportunities for tuition assistance exist. Most notably, the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) provides the Tuition Break program for New England students interested in an out-of-state degree. Also called the Regional Student Program (RSP), this initiative ensures reduced enrollment tuition rates for qualifying residents. The Tuition Break covers 82 public institutions, including two- and four-year schools as well as graduate degree programs. In addition to Connecticut, state residents of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont can apply.To qualify for the Tuition Break, you must be a permanent resident of one of the six states listed above. Applicants may also argue proximity to an out-of-state institution as a justifiable reason to enter a specific program, such as living on the border of a qualifying state. Once you have found a degree that fits within the RSP program, you must request to apply for the Tuition Break on your school application. The school will let you know if you have qualified. Program eligibility and availability vary by school. If you are already enrolled in a program, you can also apply RSP status to qualifying majors.
Best Online Colleges in Connecticut
Below, you will find our rankings of the best online four-year programs in Connecticut. Our profiles look at how schools approach online education and then list out their services for distance students and their popular, fully online degrees. After reviewing the best online schools in CT, explore our state resources, like a database of every college and university in Connecticut or our index of popular in-state scholarships.
Ranking Methodology
To determine the best online colleges in each state, we examined the factors most important to prospective students: Academic quality and reputation, online program strength, and cost and student aid. At the most basic level, we use the following formula to determine the best online colleges: Academic Quality + Online Offerings + Cost and Student Aid = Final Score. Of course, there's more to these calculations than meets the eye. Visit our methodology page to discover the data points that shape our formula and to learn more about the process we use to rank schools.
Most Affordable Online Colleges in Connecticut
Below you'll find another listing of online schools in CT, ranked by their tuition rate.
Affordability Methodology
Our list of the most affordable online colleges is based on in-state yearly tuition, or annual tuition rates if a school does not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition rates are based on a full course load each semester or term. All colleges on the list offer at least one bachelor's degree completion program available entirely online.Those online schools in Colorado with the lowest tuition are ranked highest, providing prospective students with a true list of the most affordable online colleges in their state.
College Graduate Outlook in Connecticut
Job Outlook for College Graduates in Connecticut
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports positive job outlook percentages for graduates in Connecticut. The unemployment rate reported for 2018 falls between 4.5% and 4.3%. These numbers are below the pre-2008 crisis level, which hovered around 5%.Mean annual wages by occupation as listed by the BLS for the state of Connecticut indicate a variety of jobs on the rise. Agricultural and food science technicians, farm workers, and construction top the scientific and manual labor areas. The need for teachers of K-12 and post-secondary education is also expected to increase, particularly in areas of business, administration, and the sciences. Healthcare education, chiropractic services, and oral surgery and orthodontia constitute the leading opportunities in Connecticut health systems.