Trinity College
Hartford, Connecticut · Private Nonprofit · 29.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 87/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Trinity College scores 87 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale - a selective private liberal arts college in Hartford, CT with 2,146 enrolled students and a $70,770 sticker tuition discounted to a $34,832 net price. The score reflects a 5-year payback period, a 40.0% earnings premium, a 0.442 debt-to-earnings ratio, an 83.8% completion rate, and an 85.0% repayment rate at 3 years. The 83.8% completion rate and $23,000 median debt are standout institutional strengths. Economics (93 grads, $71,191 year-one, $122,068 at year four, grade B+) is the leading program. International Relations (77 grads, $42,979 year-one, $94,097 at year four, grade C) has the largest confirmed graduate count and shows strong long-term growth despite lower year-one earnings.
The median graduate earns $90,779 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Trinity College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $70,770/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $70,770/yr |
| Average net price | $34,832/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $139,328 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $90,779 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $52,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $244 |
| Estimated payback period | 5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 83.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,146 |
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: $70,770/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $34,832/year, or roughly $139,328 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 $11,054/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $48,515/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,000, which works out to about $244 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($52,000) and comes to 0.44, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $11,054 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,599 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,325 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $24,369 |
| $110,001+ | $48,515 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $11,054 per year at Trinity - an exceptional net price for a $70,770 sticker institution, reflecting Trinity's commitment to meeting demonstrated need. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $13,599. For low-income students admitted to Trinity, the net price is $11,054 per year, against median earnings of $90,779 ten years after entry. The 83.8% completion rate confirms that students who enroll generally finish. Low-income students at Trinity should plan carefully for the near-term income gap - $52,000 average 6-year earnings in expensive Hartford and New York-adjacent markets requires careful financial management before the long-term earnings trajectory materializes.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $18,325 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $24,369. The step-up from the low-income to middle-income brackets is material - $18,325 is nearly double the $11,054 paid by the lowest bracket. At $18,000-$24,000 per year, the 5-year payback period and $90,779 in 10-year earnings produce a reasonable financial case.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $48,515 per year at Trinity - a four-year total close to $194,000. This is a significant financial commitment for a $52,000 average 6-year earner. The financial case for full-pay Trinity rests almost entirely on the 10-year trajectory: $90,779 at 10 years against a $194,000 total cost produces a payback period in the 10-12 year range, depending on the specific program. Economics graduates ($71,191 year-one, $122,068 at year four) recover full-pay costs substantially faster. Full-pay families should run program-specific scenarios carefully - the $194,000 investment makes more sense for economics or public policy than for international relations near-term.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Trinity College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $122,068 | B+ |
| International Relations | $94,097 | C |
| Public Policy Analysis | $82,638 | B |
| English Language and Literature | $68,063 | B+ |
| Sociology | $50,077 | - |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $67,115 | C+ |
| Biology | $52,179 | C+ |
| Area Studies | $73,229 | - |
| Mathematics | $63,076 | - |
| Psychology | $69,730 | 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.
Economics
Economics is Trinity's strongest graded program: 93 confirmed graduates, $71,191 year-one, $122,068 at year four, grade B+ on $21,500 median debt. Year-one earnings of $71,191 reflect strong placement into finance, consulting, and corporate roles from Hartford and the New York metro. The four-year figure of $122,068 reflects economics majors' career advancement into senior analytical and management roles. At a $34,832 net price, the payback math on $21,500 median debt against $71,191 year-one earnings is approximately 4 months. Economics is one of the clearest cases for Trinity's ROI premium.
International Relations
International Relations is Trinity's largest confirmed-graduate program at 77 graduates: $42,979 year-one, $94,097 at year four, grade C on $25,000 median debt. Year-one earnings of $42,979 are modest for a $34,832 net price - the C grade reflects the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.582 in the near term. The four-year trajectory to $94,097 is the story: international relations graduates are advancing into government, think tanks, international business, and graduate programs that produce strong mid-career earnings. The 5-year institutional payback period depends partly on this delayed-growth profile. Students who choose international relations at Trinity should have a clear plan for the near-term income gap between graduation and the $94,097 trajectory.
Public Policy Analysis
Public Policy Analysis produces 39 confirmed graduates at $56,902 year-one and $82,638 at year four, grade B on $23,161 median debt. Year-one earnings of $56,902 are competitive for an entry-level policy analyst role in Connecticut and the Northeast, and the four-year trajectory to $82,638 reflects advancement within public sector, nonprofit, and research careers. Trinity's Hartford location provides proximity to Connecticut state government, insurance sector firms, and urban policy organizations that support practical placements. Public Policy is one of Trinity's stronger near-term earner programs relative to most liberal arts offerings.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 81.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 85.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 86.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 87.8% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Trinity College’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 | 29.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 640-730 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 658-740 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 30-34 |
| Enrollment | 2,146 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 13.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,642 |
Trinity's 29.3% admission rate places it in the selective tier of New England liberal arts colleges. SAT 640-730 Math and 658-740 Reading and ACT 30-34 composite indicate preparation at or above the 90th percentile nationally. Trinity evaluates applications holistically and has historically been test-optional.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity College (this school) | 87 | $34,832 | $90,779 |
| Bucknell University | 87 | $40,766 | $93,807 |
| Trinity University | 85 | $23,464 | $71,668 |
| Franklin and Marshall College | 81 | $36,425 | $76,124 |
| Albertus Magnus College | 39 | $34,028 | $60,144 |
| University of Bridgeport | 27 | $27,807 | $50,323 |
Who Thrives Here
Trinity admits 29.3% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 640-730 Math and 658-740 Reading; ACT composite 30-34. With 2,146 enrolled students and a 13.8% Pell grant rate, Trinity serves a predominantly high-income student body with strong academic preparation. Students who attend Trinity are typically targeting graduate school, law, finance, or policy careers where the credential value builds over time - reflected in the dramatic gap between 6-year and 10-year earnings. Students who need immediate post-graduation income to service debt may find Trinity's 6-year average of $52,000 limiting in the near term.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, Trinity College pays off. You'd pay about $34,832 a year after aid ($139,328 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $90,779 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 5 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 83.8% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $23,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $52,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44, 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.
Trinity College: Common Questions
Is Trinity College worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Trinity College pays off. It scores 87/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $34,832 a year after aid ($139,328 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $90,779 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 5 years to earn back.
How much does Trinity College 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 $34,832 a year, or roughly $139,328 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 Trinity College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $90,779 ten years after enrolling, roughly $48,979 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 Trinity College?
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 5 years for Trinity College. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Trinity College graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,000, against average earnings of $52,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44. 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 Trinity College?
The six-year graduation rate is 83.8%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.