University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut · Public · 52.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 85/100 · Strong Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Connecticut scores 85 (Strong Value), with an 83.3% completion rate, 6.2-year payback period, and 85% repayment rate. Average 6-year earnings of $49,800 at an in-state net price of $25,097 make UConn competitive among large public research universities in the Northeast. The program range is wide - Pharmacy ($122,474 year-four, ROI grade A) and Computer Engineering ($115,117 year-four, ROI grade A) lead, while Drama/Theatre ($18,002 year one, ROI grade F) and Communication Disorders ($22,345 year one, ROI grade F) anchor the bottom. With 19,835 enrolled students, this is the state's flagship and offers the scale of programs and research opportunities that come with it.
University of Connecticut scores in the top 9% of the schools we score, with strong earnings outcomes relative to cost.
University of Connecticut
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $21,044/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $43,712/yr |
| Average net price | $25,097/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $100,388 |
| 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 | 6.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 83.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 19,835 |
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: $21,044/year ($43,712/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 $25,097/year, or roughly $100,388 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 $15,193/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $33,797/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 | $15,193 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $16,339 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $20,608 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $28,285 |
| $110,001+ | $33,797 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The $0-30,000 income bracket pays $15,193 per year. At four-year total cost around $61,000 and $49,800 average 6-year earnings, low-income students who complete STEM or health sciences programs will find UConn financially sound. The completion rate of 83.3% is strong and reduces the dropout risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($30,001-75,000) pay $16,339-$20,608 per year. The 6.2-year payback at median earnings is reasonable; STEM and health sciences graduates will substantially beat that timeline.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,001+ pay $33,797 per year in-state. For in-state families, this is $135,000 over four years - a solid value for a flagship research university.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Connecticut with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $57,961 | D |
| Economics | $81,881 | B |
| Finance and Financial Management | $102,286 | B+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $68,542 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $92,601 | B+ |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | $79,657 | C |
| International Relations | $63,902 | C |
| Mechanical Engineering | $90,261 | B+ |
| Biology | $71,160 | D |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | $73,120 | 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.
Pharmacy
Pharmacy (77 graduates) earns $122,474 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.220 (ROI grade A). The A grade and high year-four earnings reflect immediate high-demand placement for licensed pharmacists in Connecticut's dense healthcare market. Median debt of $27,000 is moderate for a pharmacy graduate. This is among the most financially reliable programs at UConn.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering (77 graduates) earns $82,924 year one and $115,117 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.242 (ROI grade A). UConn's Hartford-New Haven corridor placement and proximity to major tech employers (and NYC for remote workers) support this pipeline.
Economics
Economics is one of UConn's largest programs at 390 graduates. Year-one median earnings are $52,227 and year-four $81,881 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.439 (ROI grade B). The B grade and four-year trajectory to $81k reflect placement into finance, consulting, insurance (a major Connecticut sector), and graduate programs. Economics at UConn is a volume program with solid but not exceptional ROI - the large graduate count dilutes the premium earnings track.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (250 graduates) earns $84,969 year one and $92,601 at year four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.318 (ROI grade B+). The year-one figure is nearly $85k and reflects immediate RN licensure value. Median debt is $27,000.
Psychology
Psychology (414 graduates) is UConn's largest program by graduate count. Year-one earnings are $33,521 and year-four $57,961 with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.701 (ROI grade D). The D grade at this volume is a significant institutional ROI drag. Many of 414 psychology graduates are pursuing graduate school, social services, healthcare administration, and human resources roles that start below the Scorecard average. Students who do not have a specific career plan for their psychology degree should budget for further education.
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’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 | 52.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 600-730 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 610-710 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 28-33 |
| Enrollment | 19,835 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $14,634 |
UConn accepts 52.4% of applicants. SAT Math 600-730 and Reading 610-710 reflect the middle 50%; ACT 28-33. In-state applicants with solid academics in competitive Connecticut high schools have a strong chance of admission.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Connecticut (this school) | 85 | $25,097 | $73,997 |
| Stony Brook University | 87 | $18,784 | $74,502 |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | 83 | $22,383 | $71,631 |
| CUNY Hunter College | 83 | $2,984 | $63,163 |
| Charter Oak State College | 77 | $15,815 | $64,209 |
| Central Connecticut State University | 63 | $16,857 | $58,562 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of Connecticut side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
UConn fits in-state Connecticut students who want a major research university experience at public tuition with strong STEM, business, and health sciences programs. The acceptance rate is 52.4%, with SAT Math 600-730 and Reading 610-710, ACT 28-33.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
For most students, University of Connecticut pays off. You'd pay about $25,097 a year after aid ($100,388 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 6.2 years, a solid return.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 83.3% graduation rate, 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: Common Questions
Is University of Connecticut worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of Connecticut pays off. It scores 85/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $25,097 a year after aid ($100,388 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $73,997 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 6.2 years to earn back.
How much does University of Connecticut 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 $25,097 a year, or roughly $100,388 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 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?
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 6.2 years for University of Connecticut. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Connecticut 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?
The six-year graduation rate is 83.3%, 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.