by our College Data Analytics TeamThere are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Associate Degree Colleges in Connecticut ranking.
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We analyzed 19 colleges and universities across Connecticut to determine which ones have the best associate degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of associate graduates during the early years of their career. Recent students who earned a associate degree in Connecticut entered the job market making an average of $39,377 while those in the top 15 schools on our list made an average of $40,452.
Students may also take on a lot of debt while working on their associate so we factor that into our rankings as well. Upon graduation, associate degree recipients from schools in Connecticut have accumulated an average of $19,767 in student debt. We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty associate recipients will have paying back their loans.
In addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt loads, we also look at a host of other factors to determining our Best Associate Degree Schools ranking. These factors include things like the educational resources, the demand associated with the school, whether or not the school offers online classes, and the student body caliber - just to name a few.
Find out more about our best schools ranking methodology
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2024 rankings named University of Connecticut the best school in Connecticut in terms of overall quality for students working on their associate degree. Located in Storrs, Connecticut, the large public school handed out 33 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Out of the 19 associate degree schools in Connecticut that were part of this year’s ranking, Sacred Heart University landed the #2 spot on the list. Sacred Heart University is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in Fairfield, Connecticut that handed out 93 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $62,190 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $30,171 after getting their degree.
A rank of #3 on our Best Associate Degree in Connecticut list means University of New Haven is a great place for students working on their degree. University of New Haven is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in West Haven, Connecticut that handed out 31 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $20,500 in student loans.
Out of the 19 associate degree schools in Connecticut that were part of this year’s ranking, Post University landed the #4 spot on the list. Waterbury, Connecticut is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private for-profit school handed out associate degrees to 490 students in 2020-2021.
The average salary of a graduate with a associate degree from Post University is $32,657 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $35,225 in student loans.
The excellent associate degree programs at University of Bridgeport helped the school earn the #5 place on this year’s ranking of the best schools in Connecticut. UBridgeport is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The school has a small population, and it awarded 53 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $28,429.
Capital Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #6. Hartford, Connecticut is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 312 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Capital Community College make an average of $39,412 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $9,891 after getting their degree.
Gateway Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #7. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, the medium-sized public school awarded 577 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from Gateway Community College go into careers with an average salary of $39,822 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,510 in student loans.
University of Hartford did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #8. UHart is located in West Hartford, Connecticut and has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 88 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Associate students leave the school with an average of $14,443 in student loans. This translates to an average monthly payment of $432 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
Norwalk Community College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut list. Located in Norwalk, Connecticut, the small public school handed out 551 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a associate degree from NCC go into careers with an average salary of $45,067 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $13,875.
Manchester Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #10. MCC is a public institution located in Manchester, Connecticut. The school has a small population, and it awarded 600 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, associate degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $35,798 during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $8,875 in student loans.
Three Rivers Community College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking. This small public school is located in Norwich, Connecticut, and it awarded 397 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Three Rivers Community College make an average of $40,370 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $10,862 after getting their degree.
Naugatuck Valley Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #12. Naugatuck Valley Community College is located in Waterbury, Connecticut and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 631 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Naugatuck Valley Community College make an average of $45,010 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $11,838 after getting their degree.
Charter Oak State College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking. New Britain, Connecticut is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 59 students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Charter Oak State College make an average of $70,038 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by associate students is $14,333.
Middlesex Community College landed the #14 spot on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking. MxCC is a small public school situated in Middletown, Connecticut. It awarded 313 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from MxCC make an average of $37,031 a year. Associate students leave the school with an average of $9,016 in student loans.
With a ranking of #15, Housatonic Community College did quite well on the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut list. Housatonic Community College is a small public school located in Bridgeport, Connecticut that handed out 367 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from Housatonic Community College make an average of $28,996 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $8,009 after getting their degree.
Asnuntuck Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #16. ACC is a public institution located in Enfield, Connecticut. The school has a small population, and it awarded 150 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, associate degree graduates from ACC make an average of $28,007 a year. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $12,000 after getting their degree.
Tunxis Community College ranked #17 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut list. This small public school is located in Farmington, Connecticut, and it awarded 369 associate degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a associate degree from Tunxis Community College make an average of $37,611 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $10,790 in student loans.
Quinebaug Valley Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut ranking, coming in at #18. QVCC is located in Danielson, Connecticut and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 166 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Those who receive a associate degree from QVCC go into careers with an average salary of $27,754 during the early years of their career. Associate students carry an average student debt load of about $5,500 after getting their degree.
Northwestern Connecticut Community College ranked #19 on this year’s Best Associate Degree Schools in Connecticut list. NCCC is located in Winsted, Connecticut and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 144 associate degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a associate degree from NCCC make an average of $37,024 per year during the early years of their career. Associate students leave the school with an average of $11,795 in student loans.
Read full report on Northwestern Connecticut Community College
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
