by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the options you have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take when you want to pursue a degree. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard. Due to the amount of income-based financial aid available, many 'high-priced' schools are more affordable than you think.
In This Year's Value Report:
After analyzing 28 schools in Connecticut, we came up with our list of those that offered the best value programs. Our ranking methodology focuses on different objective factors to make this determination of the best value schools. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
To calculate the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut ranking, we first consider its average net price of students from families making $0-$30k a year. The net price is the sum of room and board, tuition, and fees minus any financial aid that that the student receives. In addition, the overall quality of a school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how much it costs.
To make it into this list a school must offer a quality education like the schools in our Best Colleges ranking. This ranking considers factors such as graduation rates, overall graduate earnings and other educational resources to identify great colleges and universities.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
You can scroll down to see the top schools for this ranking, but you may also want to view some of the other ranking methods listed below.
Know what field you want to major in? Make sure you check out our best value schools by major. In addition, you can select one of the links below to see the best value colleges for other degree levels.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Yale University tops this year’s ranking as the best value (income $0-$30k) school in Connecticut for overall quality. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, the school is a fairly large private not-for-profit institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Yale University is ranked #1 for quality in the state of Connecticut. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $1,717.
A rank of #2 on our Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut list means Trinity College is a great place for students working on their degree. This small private not-for-profit school is located in Hartford, Connecticut.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Trinity College is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Connecticut. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $8,252.
The quality degree programs at Middlesex Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut. Middletown, Connecticut is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is Middlesex Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #23 in Connecticut for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $2,922.
The quality degree programs at University of Connecticut helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut. Located in Storrs, Connecticut, the school is a large public institution.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Connecticut is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Connecticut. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $13,586.
The quality degree programs at Manchester Community College helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut. Manchester Community College is a small public school located in Manchester, Connecticut.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Manchester Community College is ranked #17 for quality in the state of Connecticut. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $5,901.
With a ranking of #6, Gateway Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut list. This medium-sized public school is located in New Haven, Connecticut.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Gateway Community College is ranked #12 for quality in the state of Connecticut. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,068.
Norwalk Community College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut ranking. Located in Norwalk, Connecticut, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Norwalk Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #19 in Connecticut for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,174.
Capital Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut ranking. Capital Community College is a small public school situated in Hartford, Connecticut.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Capital Community College is ranked #11 for quality in the state of Connecticut. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,719.
Three Rivers Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #9. This small public school is located in Norwich, Connecticut.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Three Rivers Community College is ranked #21 for quality in the state of Connecticut. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $6,088.
Naugatuck Valley Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut ranking. This small public school is located in Waterbury, Connecticut.
Not only is Naugatuck Valley Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #20 in Connecticut for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,383.
Learn More About Value at Naugatuck Valley Community College
Central Connecticut State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #11. New Britain, Connecticut is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Central Connecticut State University has the honor of being ranked #8 in Connecticut for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $10,095.
Read full value report on Central Connecticut State University
Housatonic Community College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut list. This small public school is located in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Housatonic Community College is ranked #25 for quality in the state of Connecticut. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,458.
Quinebaug Valley Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut ranking. QVCC is a small public school situated in Danielson, Connecticut.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Quinebaug Valley Community College is ranked #28 for quality in the state of Connecticut. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $6,486.
Read full value report on Quinebaug Valley Community College
Tunxis Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #14. Tunxis Community College is a small public school located in Farmington, Connecticut.
Not only is Tunxis Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #26 in Connecticut for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $7,665.
Connecticut College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut list. Conn College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in New London, Connecticut.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Connecticut College is ranked #5 for quality in the state of Connecticut. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $19,605.
Charter Oak State College landed the #16 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut ranking. This small public school is located in New Britain, Connecticut.
Charter Oak State College has the honor of being ranked #16 in Connecticut for overall quality on top of being a good value. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $14,072.
With a ranking of #17, Western Connecticut State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut list. WestConn is located in Danbury, Connecticut and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Western Connecticut State University a great value, but it is also ranked #22 in Connecticut for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $13,374.
Learn More About Value at Western Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Willimantic, Connecticut, the school is a small public institution.
Not only is Eastern Connecticut State University a great value, but it is also ranked #15 in Connecticut for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $14,933.
With a ranking of #19, Southern Connecticut State University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut list. SCSU is a medium-sized public school situated in New Haven, Connecticut.
Southern Connecticut State University has the honor of being ranked #13 in Connecticut for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $15,792.
Read full value report on Southern Connecticut State University
University of Saint Joseph came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut ranking. USJ is a small private not-for-profit school situated in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Not only is University of Saint Joseph a great value, but it is also ranked #9 in Connecticut for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $21,094.
With a ranking of #21, Post University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut list. Waterbury, Connecticut is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. It is a private for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Post University is ranked #18 for quality in the state of Connecticut. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $22,706.
University of Bridgeport did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #22. University of Bridgeport is a small private not-for-profit school located in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Not only is University of Bridgeport a great value, but it is also ranked #24 in Connecticut for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $22,983.
With a ranking of #23, Fairfield University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut list. Fairfield University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Fairfield, Connecticut.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Fairfield University is ranked #4 for quality in the state of Connecticut. Students from families who make $0-$30k a year pay an annual average net price of $31,018.
University of Hartford did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #24. University of Hartford is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in West Hartford, Connecticut.
Not only is University of Hartford a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in Connecticut for overall quality. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $25,636.
University of New Haven landed the #25 spot on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money (Income $0-$30k) in Connecticut ranking. University of New Haven is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in West Haven, Connecticut.
University of New Haven has the honor of being ranked #10 in Connecticut for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average yearly net price for a student whose family makes $0-$30k per year is $27,400.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.