University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
Waterbury, Connecticut · Public · 86.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 85/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
UConn-Waterbury Campus scores 85 (Strong Value) on the CampusROI scale - a branch campus of the University of Connecticut in Waterbury, CT with 733 enrolled students. The score reflects a 4.7-year payback period, an earnings premium of 89.6%, a 0.432 debt-to-earnings ratio, and an 85.0% repayment rate at 7 years. Average 6-year earnings of $49,800 are strong, and the net price is $10,875. The 52.7% completion rate is the primary weakness and the reason the score is 85 rather than higher - more than 4 in 10 students who enroll do not finish. The campus functions as a UConn branch, meaning students earn a University of Connecticut degree - carrying the flagship brand. The handful of programs with confirmed graduates include Nursing (2 grads, $84,969 year-one, grade B+), Computer Science (1 grad, $79,605 year-one, grade B+), Economics (3 grads), and Communication and Media Studies (2 grads).
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus scores in the top 9% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $18,140/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,808/yr |
| Average net price | $10,875/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $43,500 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $73,997 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $49,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $21,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $228 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 52.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 733 |
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: $18,140/year ($40,808/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $10,875/year, or roughly $43,500 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 $5,604/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $20,538/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $21,500, which works out to about $228 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($49,800) and comes to 0.43, 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 | $5,604 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $5,463 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,490 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,621 |
| $110,001+ | $20,538 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $5,604 per year at UConn-Waterbury. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $5,463, marginally less. The 52.7% completion rate remains a meaningful risk, but the 85.0% repayment rate among borrowers suggests that those who complete are managing debt well. This is a high-ceiling, high-variance proposition for low-income students: the outcome for completers is strong; the outcome for non-completers is debt without credentials.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $11,490 per year, and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $15,621. The step-up from the lowest income brackets to middle-income is significant - from $5,500 to $11,500 - reflecting that need-based aid phases out quickly. Middle-income families should run the net price calculator carefully. At $11,000-$16,000 per year for a UConn degree with strong earnings outcomes, Waterbury remains a strong value proposition for most programs above the D/F level.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $20,538 per year at UConn-Waterbury, totaling roughly $82,000 over four years. This is competitive pricing for access to a flagship state university degree. The 10-year median earnings of $73,997 and the strong program outcomes in engineering and business make full-pay Waterbury financially defensible.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | $81,881 | B |
| Psychology | $57,961 | D |
| Registered Nursing | $92,601 | B+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $68,542 | C |
| Computer Science | $108,934 | B+ |
| Mechanical Engineering | $90,261 | B+ |
| Finance and Financial Management | $102,286 | B+ |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $73,120 | C |
| Biology | $71,160 | D |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | $79,657 | 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
Nursing shows 2 confirmed graduates at the Waterbury campus with $84,969 year-one and $92,601 year-four earnings, grade B+ on $27,000 debt. The very small confirmed graduate count reflects the branch structure. Year-one earnings of $84,969 in Connecticut's healthcare market are competitive, reflecting that state's high healthcare wages. Students admitted to UConn nursing through the Waterbury pathway should confirm the degree completion pathway and clinical placement structure before enrolling.
Computer Science
Computer Science shows 1 confirmed graduate at Waterbury with $79,605 year-one and $108,934 year-four, grade B+ on $25,000 debt. The system-level data suggests strong CS outcomes for UConn graduates broadly. Students should confirm whether upper-division CS coursework is available at Waterbury or requires transfer to complete the degree.
Economics
Economics shows 3 confirmed graduates at Waterbury with $52,227 year-one and $81,881 year-four, grade B on $22,907 debt. The year-four figure of $81,881 is strong, reflecting solid career progression for UConn economics graduates in the Connecticut and broader Northeast market. At a $10,875 net price, economics graduates recover their median debt in approximately 4 years. The program's small confirmed graduate count at Waterbury is consistent with the branch model.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 81.5% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 85.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 82.6% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 87.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus’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 | 86.7% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 430-600 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 480-600 |
| Enrollment | 733 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 51.6% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $17,573 |
SAT mid-range of 430-600 Math and 480-600 Reading reflects a broad-access student profile.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus (this school) | 85 | $10,875 | $73,997 |
| California State University Maritime Academy | 90 | $20,555 | $94,784 |
| Charter Oak State College | 77 | $15,815 | $64,209 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Bradford | 75 | $15,350 | $66,125 |
| Ohio State University-Lima Campus | 68 | $12,940 | $60,409 |
| Central Connecticut State University | 63 | $16,857 | $58,562 |
Who Thrives Here
UConn-Waterbury admits 86.7% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 430-600 Math and 480-600 Reading; ACT data is not reported. With 733 enrolled students and a 51.6% Pell grant rate, Waterbury serves a predominantly first-generation and lower-income student body. Students should clarify with the institution exactly which programs are completable at Waterbury versus requiring a campus transfer, as this materially affects the residential and logistical commitment.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus pays off. You'd pay about $10,875 a year after aid ($43,500 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $73,997 ten years after enrollment. That puts the payback - the time it takes for the earnings bump to cover what you spent - at roughly 4.7 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $21,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $49,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43, 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.
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus: Common Questions
Is University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus pays off. It scores 85/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $10,875 a year after aid ($43,500 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $73,997 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.7 years to earn back.
How much does University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus 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 $10,875 a year, or roughly $43,500 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 University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $73,997 ten years after enrolling, roughly $32,197 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 University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus?
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 4.7 years for University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $21,500, against average earnings of $49,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43. 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 University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus?
The six-year graduation rate is 52.7%. 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.
NewsletterCollege decisions are better with data.
From CampusROI, when there is something worth acting on.
Rankings & Links
Guides & Tools
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.