Connecticut College
New London, Connecticut · Private Nonprofit · 37.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 76/100 · Strong Value
Connecticut College earns a Strong Value ROI score of 76, reflecting the elite-LAC profile of high completion, strong long-term earnings, and excellent loan repayment. Completion rate is 82.1% (subscore 91), and the repayment rate of 95% is among the best in our dataset (subscore 99). Median earnings start modestly at $44,400 six years after entry but climb sharply to $75,001 by year 10 -- a typical liberal-arts curve where graduates' careers compound through graduate school and white-collar tracks. Median debt sits at $23,500 with a 7.1-year payback period. Sticker tuition is steep at $67,242 and the published 4-year cost reaches $144,700, but actual net price after aid drops to $36,175. Debt-to-earnings of 0.529 is moderate (subscore 67). The earnings premium of 27.6% is solid but not exceptional -- consistent with a humanities-heavy liberal-arts curriculum that delays earnings ramp until grad school or career establishment. Overall, this is a strong-value pick for academically prepared students who get meaningful aid; full-pay students face a high price for outcomes that elite publics often match.
Connecticut College scores in the top 25% of all schools we track, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
Connecticut College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $67,242/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $67,242/yr |
| Average net price | $36,175/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $144,700 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $75,001 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,400 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $249 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 82.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,937 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Connecticut College is $67,242/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $36,175/year, or roughly $144,700 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $13,341/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $47,031/year.
The median graduate leaves with $23,500 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $249 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $75,001 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.53 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 | $13,341 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,892 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $28,961 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,797 |
| $110,001+ | $47,031 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay just $13,341 net annually -- one of the most generous low-income aid profiles in the dataset. Across four years that's roughly $53,000 -- well below median undergraduate debt thresholds. The $30,001-$48,000 bracket pays $16,892. For Pell-eligible students, this is exactly the sort of school where the elite-LAC sticker price bears no resemblance to actual cost; aid makes the math work strongly.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 bracket pays $28,961, and $75,001-$110,000 jumps to $29,797 -- a $13,000 step from the lower-middle bracket. Four-year cost lands at $115,000-$120,000. Middle-income families absorb the most aid-cliff pressure here, where sticker shock meets compromised need-based eligibility. Students should run the net price calculator carefully and weigh state public alternatives.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $47,031 net annually, totaling roughly $188,000 across four years. Full-pay families absorb steep cost for a strong but not flagship-elite outcome profile. With 10-year median earnings of $75,001, full-pay students should compare directly with state flagships and second-tier elite privates that may deliver comparable earnings outcomes at materially lower full-pay cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Connecticut College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $107,283 | B |
| Psychology | $40,141 | C |
| International Relations | $74,190 | C+ |
| Computer Science | $86,403 | B+ |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $62,925 | B |
| Sociology | $63,777 | D |
| Biology | $41,067 | C |
| English Language and Literature | $54,495 | D |
| Area Studies | $60,749 | C+ |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $61,321 | 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.
Computer Science
Computer Science is the strongest ROI program with a B+ grade. First-year earnings of $86,403 against $26,352 in debt produce a 0.305 debt-to-earnings ratio. With 32 graduates annually, this is a meaningful program at LAC scale. Strong tech-sector recruiting from the East Coast hubs is the underlying driver. For students choosing Connecticut College, the CS pathway offers the cleanest economic case.
Economics
Economics earns a B grade and is the largest program by graduates (75). First-year earnings of $62,732 grow dramatically to $107,283 by year four -- among the steepest ramps in the dataset, reflecting placement into finance, consulting, and graduate study. Debt of $25,206 against those earnings yields a 0.402 ratio. This is the program that anchors Connecticut College's earnings reputation.
International Relations
International Relations earns a C+ grade with $46,588 first-year earnings climbing to $74,190 by year four. Debt of $24,800 produces a 0.532 ratio. The 43 graduates annually feed into NGO, government, foundation, and graduate-school pathways. Earnings ramp is moderate; the major's value is largely realized through graduate study and credential layering.
Psychology
Psychology graduates 55 students annually -- a large humanities-adjacent track -- earning a C grade. First-year earnings of $40,141 against $24,197 in debt produce a 0.603 ratio. As at most LACs, the bachelor's is rarely terminal; meaningful earnings require master's or doctoral training. The Connecticut College brand is a strong feeder into top graduate psychology programs, which is the realistic path for value capture here.
Biology
Biology graduates 22 students annually with a C grade. First-year earnings of $41,067 against $23,045 in debt yield a 0.561 ratio. Like psychology, the program functions primarily as a pre-graduate feeder -- pre-med, PhD, or healthcare professional school. Bachelor-level earnings figures understate true career trajectories for students who continue into clinical or research training.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 92.3% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 95.0% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 91.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 93.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 37.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 660-740 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 690-760 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 30-33 |
| Enrollment | 1,937 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 14.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,781 |
Connecticut College admits 37% of applicants -- moderately selective among NESCAC-tier liberal-arts colleges. SAT mid-ranges of 660-740 math and 690-760 reading and ACT 30-33 indicate a strong, college-ready student body. The selectivity-completion correlation holds: well-prepared admits drive the 82.1% completion rate. Test-optional admissions during recent cycles may have widened the academic distribution, but published medians remain firmly in the upper-tier LAC range.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Peers include Albertus Magnus College, University of Bridgeport, Gettysburg College, Illinois Wesleyan University, and Whitman College. Among these, Gettysburg College and Whitman College are the closest peer matches by selectivity and academic profile, with comparable 70-80 ROI scores and similar earnings trajectories. Illinois Wesleyan posts comparable completion at lower sticker. The Connecticut/Bridgeport pair are weaker comparisons -- both score lower on outcomes. Within the elite-LAC peer set, Connecticut College sits roughly mid-pack on ROI.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut College (this school) | 76 | $36,175 | $75,001 |
| Gettysburg College | 75 | $31,490 | $71,517 |
| Illinois Wesleyan University | 73 | $28,199 | $70,871 |
| Whitman College | 72 | $33,313 | $67,589 |
| Albertus Magnus College | 39 | $34,028 | $60,144 |
| University of Bridgeport | 27 | $27,807 | $50,323 |
Who Thrives Here
Enrollment is mid-sized for an LAC at 1,937 students. Pell rate is just 14.2%, indicating a wealthier student body than most schools in our dataset. Connecticut College fits academically prepared students seeking a small-college experience with strong humanities, social science, or pre-professional pathways. The 95% repayment rate signals a borrower base with stable post-graduation careers. Best-fit students are those who qualify for meaningful need-based aid (cutting full-sticker liability) or those targeting fields like economics, computer science, and international relations where specific programs deliver above-average earnings.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
Connecticut College delivers above-average financial returns for its graduates. At a net cost of $36,175 per year ($144,700 over four years), graduates earn a median of $75,001 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback period at roughly 7.1 years - a solid return on the investment.
The data highlights several strengths: a 82.0% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $23,500 against $75,001 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.