Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, Connecticut · Public · 73.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 63/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Central Connecticut State University scores 63 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. The headline weakness is a 48.4% completion rate - fewer than half of students who enroll earn a degree. That single metric pulls the score down despite otherwise workable earnings and cost data. Average 6-year earnings are $40,800 against an in-state net price of $16,857, and median debt is $22,300. The payback period of 8.8 years reflects the combination of modest earnings and typical debt. Engineering and health programs drive the school's best outcomes: Registered Nursing (82 graduates, $83,012 year-one) and Mechanical Engineering (51 graduates, $74,676 year-one) both carry B+-grade ROI. At the other end, Psychology (155 graduates, D grade), Communication and Media Studies (D grade), and History (D grade) produce graduates earning $30,000-$35,000 year-one against $22,000-$29,000 in debt. The 48.4% completion rate is the number that matters most at CCSU: a prospective student's primary financial risk here is not graduating. In-state tuition of $13,050 is low, but that cost is only recovered if the student reaches graduation.
Central Connecticut State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $13,050/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $16,550/yr |
| Average net price | $16,857/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $67,428 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $58,562 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,300 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $236 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 48.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 7,822 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $13,050/year ($16,550/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $16,857/year, or roughly $67,428 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $13,589/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $21,562/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,300, which works out to about $236 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,800) and comes to 0.55, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,589 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,636 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $15,091 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,336 |
| $110,001+ | $21,562 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $13,589 net price at CCSU - a genuinely low figure for a four-year degree. At this cost level, engineering and nursing graduates can recover their investment in 5-6 years. The primary risk for low-income students is the 48.4% completion rate: non-completers pay tuition and accumulate debt without a credential.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $15,091, rising to $18,336 for the 75001-110000 bracket. At $40,800 average 6-year earnings and an 8.8-year payback, middle-income families in STEM or health programs will find reasonable value; those in humanities or social sciences face a longer road.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $21,562 net price. For families at this income level, CCSU represents a low-cost option for a Connecticut four-year degree. The value case depends heavily on major selection - engineering and nursing justify even out-of-pocket costs; most humanities programs do not.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Central Connecticut State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $53,227 | D |
| Political Science and Government | $61,950 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $71,392 | B |
| Accounting | $74,408 | B |
| Registered Nursing | $92,216 | B+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $78,910 | B |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $86,238 | B+ |
| Biology | $58,193 | C |
| Teacher Education | $52,220 | C |
| Marketing | $67,290 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is CCSU's strongest program by earnings: 82 graduates, $83,012 year-one, $92,216 year-four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.316 (ROI grade B+). Graduates recover their investment relatively quickly relative to the broader institutional average. At an in-state public price point, nursing at CCSU produces competitive outcomes compared to private nursing programs in the region.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (51 graduates) carries a B+ ROI: $74,676 year-one, $94,462 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.302 with median debt of $22,534. In-state students get engineering wages at a public school price - a combination that produces strong value. The year-four trajectory to $94k confirms that ME graduates here progress steadily in their careers.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (73 graduates) earns B+ ROI: $69,334 year-one, $86,238 at year four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.280 and median debt of $19,415. The sub-$20,000 median debt figure is notably low - likely reflecting in-state tuition and some grant aid - making the debt-to-earnings ratio one of the cleanest in the program portfolio. A strong choice for Connecticut residents interested in tech at a public school price.
Accounting
Year-one earnings of $52,758, year-four of $74,408, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.424 (ROI grade B). Median debt of $22,375 is in line with program outcomes. Accounting graduates at CCSU enter a competitive Connecticut business market; the CPA pipeline adds value not fully captured in six-year earnings.
Psychology
Psychology is CCSU's highest-enrollment major at 155 graduates, and its ROI grade is D. Year-one earnings of $33,153 against median debt of $25,000 produces a 0.754 debt-to-earnings ratio. Year-four earnings of $53,227 show improvement but students spend several years with heavy debt relative to income. The high enrollment in this program amplifies the school's overall completion-rate and earnings challenges.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 72.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 69.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 73.2% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Central Connecticut State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 73.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 470-590 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 490-600 |
| Enrollment | 7,822 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 38.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,902 |
CCSU admits 73.3% of applicants. SAT 470-590 Math, 490-600 Reading describes the middle half of admitted students. Admission is accessible; the harder challenge is completion - a 48.4% graduation rate means most students who start do not finish. Prospective students should honestly assess their academic support needs and plan proactively.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Connecticut State University (this school) | 63 | $16,857 | $58,562 |
| University of Connecticut | 85 | $25,097 | $73,997 |
| Charter Oak State College | 77 | $15,815 | $64,209 |
| Empire State University | 61 | $11,676 | $54,080 |
| University of Idaho | 59 | $14,831 | $54,670 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | 54 | $15,301 | $51,871 |
Who Thrives Here
CCSU admits 73.3% of applicants. SAT mid-range is 470-590 Math and 490-600 Reading; ACT data is not reported by Scorecard. Enrollment of 7,822 makes it a mid-size public. Pell grant rate of 38.4% reflects a working-class and first-generation student base. The school best serves students who are committed to engineering, nursing, or business - programs where completion translates to strong wages. Students in social sciences, humanities, or communications face weak post-graduation earnings at this institution relative to the debt incurred.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Central Connecticut State University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $16,857 a year after aid ($67,428 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $58,562 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates. What to keep an eye on: its 48.4% graduation rate.
Median debt of $22,300 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Central Connecticut State University: Common Questions
Is Central Connecticut State University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Central Connecticut State University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 63/100 on our ROI scale. At $16,857 a year after aid ($67,428 over four years) against $58,562 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Central Connecticut State University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $16,857 a year, or roughly $67,428 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Central Connecticut State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $58,562 ten years after enrolling, roughly $16,762 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Central Connecticut State University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 8.8 years for Central Connecticut State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Central Connecticut State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,300, against average earnings of $40,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.55. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Central Connecticut State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 48.4%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.