Paying for college · Connecticut
What college really costs in Connecticut
Average yearly net price after grants at 47 four-year colleges, lowest first. The figure for families earning under $30,000 shows how far need-based aid goes at each school.
Connecticut state grants
- Roberta B. Willis Scholarship – Need-Based Grant: Up to $4,500 a year for full-time study; your college sets the amount
- Roberta B. Willis Scholarship – Need and Merit-Based Scholarship: Up to $5,250 a year for a four-year program and up to $4,650 a year for a two-year program
- Mary Ann Handley Award (free tuition at CT State Community College, formerly PACT): Covers the tuition and mandatory fees left after federal and state grants, for the first 72 credits; open to all income levels
- Federal Pell Grant: up to $7,395 a year (2026–27)
Working while you study
$16.94/hour minimum wage
rises to $17.48 on 1 January 2027.
All four-year colleges in Connecticut
| College | Avg net price | Income under $30k | Graduate | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branford Academy of Hair & CosmetologyBranford · private | $3,721 | — | — | $6,333 |
| University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusWaterbury · public | $8,616 | $4,092 | 51% | $20,313 |
| Holy Apostles College and SeminaryCromwell · private | $9,026 | — | 71% | $13,974 |
| Connecticut State Community CollegeNew Britain · public | $9,195 | $8,947 | — | $6,500 |
| Dolce The AcademyWaterbury · private | $11,148 | — | — | $6,333 |
| University of Connecticut-Avery PointGroton · public | $11,184 | $580 | 51% | $20,313 |
| Yale UniversityNew Haven · private | $11,340 | $1,256 | 96% | $11,982 |
| Oxford Academy of Hair Design IncSeymour · private | $12,364 | $12,027 | — | $6,333 |
| University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusHartford · public | $13,961 | $7,675 | 66% | $20,313 |
| Academy Di Capelli-School of CosmetologyWallingford · private | $14,113 | — | — | $6,333 |
| University of Connecticut-StamfordStamford · public | $14,226 | $8,928 | 55% | $20,313 |
| TIGI Hairdressing Academy GuilfordGuilford · private | $15,403 | $15,193 | — | $9,833 |
| Central Connecticut State UniversityNew Britain · public | $15,537 | $12,144 | 50% | $20,500 |
| New England Tractor Trailer Training School of ConnecticutSomers · private | $15,785 | $15,239 | — | $6,967 |
| TIGI Hairdressing Academy NewtownNewtown · private | $16,141 | — | — | $9,833 |
| New England Tractor Trailer Training School of CT-BridgeportBridgeport · private | $16,541 | $16,514 | — | $6,967 |
| American Institute-West HartfordWest Hartford · private | $16,745 | — | — | $9,525 |
| Western Connecticut State UniversityDanbury · public | $16,754 | $16,782 | 51% | $23,250 |
| International Institute of CosmetologyWethersfield · private | $17,200 | $15,319 | — | $9,833 |
| Porter & Chester Institute of HamdenHamden · private | $18,284 | $20,059 | — | $12,965 |
| Porter & Chester InstituteBridgeport · private | $20,194 | $16,999 | — | $12,965 |
| Eastern Connecticut State UniversityWillimantic · public | $20,502 | $16,357 | 54% | $20,988 |
| Post UniversityWaterbury · private | $20,694 | $21,051 | 34% | $31,125 |
| Southern Connecticut State UniversityNew Haven · public | $21,029 | $18,148 | 50% | $21,500 |
| Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown · private | $23,014 | $3,557 | 90% | $14,000 |
| Paul Mitchell the School-North HavenNorth Haven · private | $23,538 | $23,110 | — | $6,333 |
| University of ConnecticutStorrs · public | $24,342 | $13,649 | 84% | $20,313 |
| University of Saint JosephWest Hartford · private | $28,249 | $21,679 | 62% | $27,000 |
| University of BridgeportBridgeport · private | $28,356 | $28,270 | 37% | $26,074 |
| University of HartfordWest Hartford · private | $28,928 | $25,616 | 57% | $26,981 |
| Branford Academy of Hair & Cosmetology-BridgeportBridgeport · private | $30,086 | — | — | $6,333 |
| Albertus Magnus CollegeNew Haven · private | $31,731 | $25,371 | 48% | $27,750 |
| Goodwin UniversityEast Hartford · private | $31,759 | — | 51% | $31,206 |
| Mitchell CollegeNew London · private | $32,206 | $24,206 | 46% | $26,000 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-East WindsorEast Windsor · private | $32,939 | $31,984 | — | $11,117 |
| University of New HavenWest Haven · private | $32,994 | $28,165 | 64% | $26,000 |
| Arizona College of Nursing - HartfordEast Hartford · private | $34,371 | — | — | $28,791 |
| Connecticut CollegeNew London · private | $35,960 | $17,313 | 82% | $24,250 |
| Trinity CollegeHartford · private | $37,004 | $7,222 | 83% | $24,000 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-New BritainNew Britain · private | $37,426 | $36,989 | — | $11,117 |
| Cortiva InstituteCromwell · private | $39,032 | — | — | $6,333 |
| American Institute of Healthcare & TechnologyStratford · private | $39,143 | — | — | $15,447 |
| Lincoln Technical Institute-SheltonShelton · private | $40,428 | $38,883 | — | $11,117 |
| Quinnipiac UniversityHamden · private | $41,729 | $35,163 | 79% | $23,250 |
| Industrial Management Training InstituteWaterbury · private | $43,520 | — | — | $5,500 |
| Sacred Heart UniversityFairfield · private | $45,827 | $37,930 | 77% | $25,000 |
| Fairfield UniversityFairfield · private | $49,906 | $30,752 | 85% | $25,000 |
Linked colleges have a full funding guide. More are added every week.
Short of what aid covers?
Students in Connecticut use My Study Fund to collect monthly support from family, friends and mentors, and receive every dollar.
Sources
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; state program pages linked above, checked 2026-10-28. Four-year, campus-based public and private nonprofit colleges with complete net-price data.