Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven, Connecticut · Public · 91.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 52/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Southern Connecticut State University scores 52 (Below Average Value) on the CampusROI scale. The school's headline challenges are a 49.9% completion rate and $38,800 average 6-year earnings against a net price of $20,857. The payback period of 11.1 years is long, and the earnings premium of 0.240 is weak - graduates earn roughly 24% above what non-graduates earn. Registered Nursing is the clear standout: 157 graduates, $87,795 year-one, $98,870 year-four, B+-grade ROI. Computer and Information Sciences (50 graduates, $58,480 year-one, $87,705 year-four) is a second viable program. Business Administration (219 graduates, $42,380 year-one) is marginal. Social Work, Sociology, Communication and Media Studies, and Kinesiology all carry D-to-F grades.
Southern Connecticut State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $13,438/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $27,378/yr |
| Average net price | $20,857/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $83,428 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,043 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $38,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $236 |
| Estimated payback period | 11.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 49.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 6,295 |
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: $13,438/year ($27,378/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 $20,857/year, or roughly $83,428 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 $17,736/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $27,809/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,250, 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 ($38,800) and comes to 0.57, 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 | $17,736 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,729 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $19,437 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $22,532 |
| $110,001+ | $27,809 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Nursing students have the clearest pathway to a positive ROI.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $19,437 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $22,532.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $27,809 per year - roughly $111,000 over four years. At $38,800 average 6-year earnings and an 11.1-year payback, full-pay families face a long time to break even on average programs. Nursing and CS graduates recover much faster.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Southern Connecticut State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $63,310 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $98,870 | B+ |
| Psychology | $50,642 | C |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $53,411 | D |
| Sociology | $52,249 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $50,379 | F |
| Biology | $67,791 | C |
| Social Work | $59,438 | D |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $61,336 | D |
| Communication and Media Studies | $56,694 | D |
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 SCSU's strongest program and a genuine regional asset: 157 graduates, $87,795 year-one, $98,870 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.294 (ROI grade B+). At in-state public school prices with median debt of $25,837, nursing graduates here are well-positioned. The almost-$100k four-year earnings figure is a strong nursing outcome.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (50 graduates) earns C+-grade ROI: $58,480 year-one, $87,705 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.487 with median debt of $28,500. The four-year trajectory from $58k to $88k is solid for a public school CS program. The C+ rather than B grade reflects higher debt relative to earnings at year one, but the long-run outlook is positive.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is SCSU's largest non-nursing program at 219 graduates. Year-one earnings of $42,380, year-four of $63,310, median debt $24,663, debt-to-earnings ratio 0.582 (ROI grade C). The C grade reflects weak year-one earnings - $42k for a business graduate in the expensive Connecticut market is below expectations. The four-year figure improves to $63k, suggesting career progression, but the early-career gap creates real debt-service pressure.
Kinesiology and Exercise Science
Kinesiology (68 graduates) earns an F-grade ROI: $24,029 year-one, $50,379 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.082 with median debt of $26,000. Year-one earnings are $24,029 against $26,000 in debt. The four-year figure of $50k shows eventual recovery but the near-term financial pressure is severe at $20,857 net price.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 74.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 71.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Southern 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 | 91.5% |
| Enrollment | 6,295 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 40.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,216 |
SCSU admits 91.5% of applicants. Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT score data for this institution. Admission is effectively open. The completion rate of 49.9% is the more important statistic - prospective students should assess their academic readiness and support system rather than their likelihood of admission.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Connecticut State University (this school) | 52 | $20,857 | $55,043 |
| Charter Oak State College | 77 | $15,815 | $64,209 |
| Central Connecticut State University | 63 | $16,857 | $58,562 |
| University of Alaska Anchorage | 54 | $15,301 | $51,871 |
| William Paterson University of New Jersey | 54 | $18,745 | $57,780 |
| Texas A&M University-Kingsville | 52 | $12,090 | $51,450 |
Who Thrives Here
SCSU admits 91.5% of applicants - near open-access. Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT score ranges for this institution. With 6,295 enrolled students in New Haven, CT, SCSU is a mid-size regional public university. Pell grant rate of 40.8% indicates a predominantly first-generation and lower-income student body. The school is most defensible as a choice for students committed to nursing or computer science; other programs face a challenging return on a $20,857 net price in a competitive Connecticut job market.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Southern Connecticut State University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $20,857 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $55,043 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 49.9% graduation rate.
Median debt of $22,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $38,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57, 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.
Southern Connecticut State University: Common Questions
Is Southern Connecticut State University worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Southern Connecticut State University scores 52/100 on our ROI scale. At $20,857 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $55,043 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Southern 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 $20,857 a year, or roughly $83,428 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 Southern Connecticut State University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $55,043 ten years after enrolling, roughly $13,243 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 Southern 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 11.1 years for Southern Connecticut State University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Southern Connecticut State University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,250, against average earnings of $38,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57. 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 Southern Connecticut State University?
The six-year graduation rate is 49.9%. 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.