UnisHub University Compass

Colleges and Universities in Connecticut (CT)

Navigate Connecticut's prestigious higher education landscape, home to Ivy League institutions, renowned liberal arts colleges, and innovative universities within easy reach of both New York and Boston. Explore our comprehensive platform to compare Connecticut's educational offerings, from Yale University's world-class programs to state universities and specialized colleges. Use advanced search filters to discover institutions known for finance, insurance, and biotechnology programs while comparing costs and campus settings throughout the Constitution State. Looking for universities near you? Our proven location-based finder delivers instant, accurate results at no cost.

54
Higher Education Institutions
202,064
Total Enrollment
$31,245
Avg. Tuition / Year

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Best Colleges & Universities in Connecticut

Connecticut offers 54 accredited higher education institutions serving over 202,064 students. The state features 15 public universities and colleges alongside 39 private institutions (16 non-profit, 23 for-profit). Average acceptance rate across Connecticut universities is 63.6%. The highest concentration of higher education institutions is found in Hartford (5), Waterbury (5), Bridgeport (5), New Haven (3), and New Britain (3).

Whether you're looking for large research universities, specialized colleges, or community institutions, Connecticut's higher education landscape includes options across every price range and academic focus.

Top 5 Largest Public Universities in Connecticut

Institution City Students Tuition Admissions
Connecticut State Community College (CT State) Hartford 34,991 $5,092 N/A
University of Connecticut (UConn) Storrs 27,364 $20,366 SAT: 1210-1420
ACT: 29-33
Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) New Britain 9,712 $12,460 SAT: 960-1180
ACT: 19-29
Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) New Haven 8,820 $12,828 N/A
Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) Danbury 4,137 $12,763 SAT: 840-1150
ACT: 20-27

Top 5 Largest Private Universities in Connecticut

Institution City Students Tuition Admissions
Post University Waterbury 21,699 $16,034 N/A
Yale University New Haven 15,081 $64,700 SAT: 1500-1580
ACT: 33-35
Sacred Heart University (SHU) Fairfield 11,179 $48,460 N/A
University of New Haven (UNH) West Haven 9,830 $45,730 SAT: 1090-1260
Quinnipiac University (QU) Hamden 8,918 $53,090 SAT: 1100-1300
ACT: 25-29

Complete List of Colleges & Universities in Connecticut, CT

54 universities

Showing all 54 institutions ranked by reported student enrollment

Download Full Data: Excel CSV
# Institution Name Acceptance Yield Admissions Tuition Students City Control Website
1 Connecticut State Community College (CT State) N/A N/A N/A $5,092 34,991 Hartford Public ctstate.edu
2 University of Connecticut (UConn) 53.9% 16.6% SAT: 1210-1420
ACT: 29-33
$20,366 27,364 Storrs Public uconn.edu
3 Post University N/A N/A N/A $16,034 21,699 Waterbury Private post.edu
4 Yale University 4.5% 70.4% SAT: 1500-1580
ACT: 33-35
$64,700 15,081 New Haven Private yale.edu
5 Sacred Heart University (SHU) 67.7% 19.7% N/A $48,460 11,179 Fairfield Private sacredheart.edu
6 University of New Haven (UNH) 80.5% 11.9% SAT: 1090-1260 $45,730 9,830 West Haven Private newhaven.edu
7 Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) 75.5% 23% SAT: 960-1180
ACT: 19-29
$12,460 9,712 New Britain Public ccsu.edu
8 Quinnipiac University (QU) 77% 10.9% SAT: 1100-1300
ACT: 25-29
$53,090 8,918 Hamden Private qu.edu
9 Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) 81.1% 18.2% N/A $12,828 8,820 New Haven Public southernct.edu
10 Fairfield University 45% 20.6% SAT: 1240-1380
ACT: 29-32
$56,360 6,289 Fairfield Private fairfield.edu
11 University of Hartford (UHart) 83% 11.1% SAT: 1100-1280
ACT: 25-32
$47,647 5,913 West Hartford Private hartford.edu
12 Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) 81.4% 16% SAT: 840-1150
ACT: 20-27
$12,763 4,137 Danbury Public wcsu.edu
13 University of Bridgeport (UB) 64.3% 6.4% SAT: 880-1115 $35,760 4,103 Bridgeport Private bridgeport.edu
14 Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) 80.5% 14.5% SAT: 1110-1320 $13,292 3,979 Willimantic Public easternct.edu
15 Wesleyan University 17.1% 31.5% SAT: 1450-1540
ACT: 33-35
$67,016 3,271 Middletown Private wesleyan.edu
16 Goodwin University N/A N/A N/A $21,188 3,034 East Hartford Private goodwin.edu
17 Trinity College 33.5% 27% SAT: 1310-1460
ACT: 30-33
$67,420 2,276 Hartford Private trincoll.edu
18 University of Connecticut (UConn) 80.2% 10.9% SAT: 960-1230
ACT: 16-25
$17,472 2,240 Stamford Public stamford.uconn.edu
19 Connecticut College (Conn) 38.3% 15.4% SAT: 1340-1470
ACT: 31-33
$64,812 1,995 New London Private conncoll.edu
20 University of Saint Joseph (USJ) 79.6% 12.2% SAT: 960-1250 $45,908 1,939 West Hartford Private usj.edu
21 Charter Oak State College N/A N/A N/A $8,506 1,766 New Britain Public charteroak.edu
22 University of Connecticut (UConn) 86.4% 22.5% SAT: 960-1210
ACT: 20-28
$17,452 1,494 Hartford Public hartford.uconn.edu
23 Porter & Chester Institute (PCI) N/A N/A N/A $15,856 1,405 Bridgeport Private porterchester.edu
24 Albertus Magnus College 64.4% 11.7% N/A $39,924 1,161 New Haven Private albertus.edu
25 United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) 24.3% 66% SAT: 1210-1380
ACT: 25-30
N/A 1,081 New London Public uscga.edu
26 Lincoln Technical Institute (Lincoln Tech) N/A N/A N/A N/A 971 East Windsor Private lincolntech.edu
27 Lincoln Technical Institute N/A N/A N/A N/A 798 Shelton Private lincolntech.edu
28 Lincoln Technical Institute (Lincoln Tech) N/A N/A N/A N/A 783 New Britain Private lincolntech.edu
29 University of Connecticut (UConn) 87% 13.1% SAT: 960-1190 $17,462 760 Waterbury Public waterbury.uconn.edu
30 Holy Apostles College and Seminary N/A N/A N/A $9,580 709 Cromwell Private holyapostles.edu
31 New England Tractor Trailer Training School of CT (NETTTS) N/A N/A N/A N/A 517 Bridgeport Private nettts.com
32 Mitchell College 73.4% 8.7% N/A $39,050 500 New London Private mitchell.edu
33 University of Connecticut (UConn) 86.5% 16.2% SAT: 980-1210 $17,462 474 Groton Public averypoint.uconn.edu
34 American Institute N/A N/A N/A N/A 396 West Hartford Private americaninstitute.edu
35 Porter & Chester Institute (PCI) N/A N/A N/A $14,870 333 Hamden Private porterchester.edu
36 New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Connecticut (NETTTS) N/A N/A N/A N/A 293 Somers Private nettts.com
37 Cortiva Institute N/A N/A N/A N/A 220 Cromwell Private cortiva.edu
38 Paier College 61.5% 71.9% N/A $28,800 203 Bridgeport Private paier.edu
39 Paul Mitchell the School N/A N/A N/A N/A 191 North Haven Private paulmitchell.edu
40 Academy Di Capelli N/A N/A N/A N/A 188 Wallingford Private academydicapelli.com
41 International Institute of Cosmetology (IIC) N/A N/A N/A N/A 184 Wethersfield Private studyhair.com
42 Bristol Technical Education Center (Bristol TEC) N/A N/A N/A N/A 152 Bristol Public bristol.cttech.org
43 Oxford Academy of Hair Design Inc N/A N/A N/A N/A 140 Seymour Private oxfordhairacademy.com
44 Hartford International University for Religion and Peace (HIU) N/A N/A N/A N/A 103 Hartford Private hartfordinternational.edu
45 TIGI Hairdressing Academy N/A N/A N/A N/A 96 Newtown Private tiginewtown.com
46 American Institute of Healthcare & Technology (AIHT) N/A N/A N/A N/A 94 Stratford Private aiht.edu
47 TIGI Hairdressing Academy (TIGI) N/A N/A N/A N/A 63 Guilford Private tigiguilford.edu
48 Dolce The Academy N/A N/A N/A N/A 42 Waterbury Private dolceacademy.edu
49 Branford Academy of Hair and Cosmetology N/A N/A N/A N/A 39 Branford Private branfordacademy.com
50 Branford Academy of Hair & Cosmetology N/A N/A N/A N/A 36 Bridgeport Private branfordacademy.com
51 CT Aerotech N/A N/A N/A N/A 34 Hartford Public ctaero.cttech.org
52 Industrial Management Training Institute (IMTI) N/A N/A N/A N/A 29 Waterbury Private imti.edu
53 Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians N/A N/A N/A N/A 27 Stratford Public ssamt.cttech.org
54 Belle Academy of Cosmetology LLC N/A N/A N/A N/A 12 Waterbury Private belleacademy.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about colleges and universities in Connecticut

How many accredited colleges are located in Connecticut?

Connecticut is home to 54 accredited colleges and universities, enrolling over 202,064 students combined. This includes 15 public institutions, 16 private non-profit colleges, and 23 private for-profit schools. Whether you're looking for large research universities with 30,000+ students or small private colleges with personalized attention, Connecticut offers options across the full spectrum of higher education. Use our interactive map and filters above to explore institutions by size, tuition range, and degree level.

Data from U.S. Department of Education IPEDS database, 2022-2024 academic year. Includes all accredited degree-granting institutions.

What's the typical cost of college tuition in Connecticut?

Tuition costs in Connecticut vary significantly by institution type. The average annual tuition across all institutions is $31,245, but here's how it breaks down:

• Public colleges - Often the most affordable option, averaging around $14,105 per year for in-state residents
• Private universities - Generally higher tuition, averaging approximately $41,169 annually, though many offer substantial financial aid packages
• Community and technical colleges - The budget-friendly choice, often under $5,000 per year for associate degrees and certificates

Remember that published tuition prices don't reflect the final cost for most students-financial aid, scholarships, and grants can dramatically reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. Use our tuition filter in the map above to find colleges within your budget.

Tuition data from IPEDS 2022-2024 academic year. Costs shown are for in-state undergraduate tuition and required fees. Actual costs vary by program and student residency.

Which universities in Connecticut have the highest enrollment?

The largest universities in Connecticut by student enrollment are:

14. Connecticut State Community College (CT State) - 34,991 students
8. University of Connecticut (UConn) - 27,364 students
25. Post University - 21,699 students

These large institutions offer extensive academic programs, research opportunities, and vibrant campus communities. However, larger doesn't always mean better-some students thrive in smaller college environments with closer faculty relationships and more personalized attention. Browse our complete directory above to compare enrollment sizes alongside acceptance rates, tuition costs, and available degree programs to find your ideal campus environment.

Enrollment data from IPEDS Fall 2023 reporting period. Numbers reflect total student headcount including undergraduate and graduate students.

Are there affordable community college options in Connecticut?

Yes! Connecticut has 37 community and technical colleges offering affordable pathways to higher education. These institutions typically charge around $32,380 per year for in-state tuition. They provide:

• Associate degree programs (2 years) that transfer to four-year universities
• Career-focused certificates in high-demand fields like nursing, IT, and skilled trades
• Open admission policies making higher education accessible to all students
• Flexible class schedules including evening, weekend, and online options

Many students start at community college to complete general education requirements affordably, then transfer to a four-year university-saving thousands of dollars while earning the same bachelor's degree. Filter by "2-4 Year Programs" in our map above to explore community college options.

Community college data from IPEDS 2022-2024. Tuition rates shown are for in-state students and may vary by program.

How competitive are college admissions in Connecticut?

Admission competitiveness in Connecticut varies widely. Yale University and Wesleyan University are highly selective, while community colleges typically have open enrollment policies welcoming all applicants.

Among four-year universities reporting admissions data:

• Most selective institutions accept under 30% of applicants
• Moderately selective schools accept 30-70% of applicants
• Less selective colleges accept over 70% of applicants

Check our university directory above for acceptance rates, average SAT/ACT scores, and yield rates (the percentage of admitted students who enroll). Remember that admission requirements extend beyond test scores-many Connecticut colleges use holistic review considering GPA, extracurriculars, essays, and personal circumstances.

Admissions data from IPEDS 2022-2024. Acceptance rates reflect percentage of applicants offered admission. Actual selectivity varies by program and applicant pool.

Map of California
California, CA
Universities and Colleges: 626
Total Students: 2,636,146
Avg. Tuition: $16,549
View State
Map of Colorado
Colorado, CO
Universities and Colleges: 83
Total Students: 371,412
Avg. Tuition: $14,188
View State
Map of Delaware
Delaware, DE
Universities and Colleges: 15
Total Students: 60,884
Avg. Tuition: $11,378
View State
Map of Florida
Florida, FL
Universities and Colleges: 313
Total Students: 1,049,546
Avg. Tuition: $16,451
View State
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