University of Hartford
West Hartford, Connecticut · Private Nonprofit · 95.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 49/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of Hartford is a mid-sized private nonprofit in West Hartford, Connecticut, enrolling 4,146 students and earning an overall ROI score of 49 - Below Average Value. The sticker tuition of $49,075 drops to an average net price of $30,282, with an estimated four-year total cost of $121,128. The central financial challenges are a 54% completion rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67, a 10.1-year payback period, and average six-year earnings of $40,300. The combination of moderately high cost and moderate earnings produces a prolonged payback horizon. Hartford's program outcomes show dramatic divergence: Registered Nursing earns an A grade with first-year median earnings of $106,348, while Film/Video earns an F grade with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.541. Music earns an F with a ratio of 1.102. Hartford's Hartt School of Music and performing and visual arts programs attract students for whom financial return is a secondary consideration, and those programs account for a significant share of the institution's enrollment and its ROI drag. The 33% Pell Grant rate indicates a moderately diverse student body. The 78% repayment rate at three years is reasonable given the program mix. Prospective students should identify their intended program and compare its specific outcomes against the net cost before making an enrollment decision.
University of Hartford
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $49,075/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $49,075/yr |
| Average net price | $30,282/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $121,128 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $60,823 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 54.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,146 |
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: $49,075/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $30,282/year, or roughly $121,128 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 $25,925/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,833/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $27,000, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,300) and comes to 0.67, 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 | $25,925 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $24,512 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $27,277 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $30,956 |
| $110,001+ | $34,833 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income students (families under $30,000) pay approximately $25,925 annually at net price - roughly $103,700 over four years. Against average six-year earnings of $40,300, this is a challenging equation. For low-income students, program selection is critical: a nursing or engineering graduate at this price can achieve payback within a reasonable period, while a music or film graduate will face payback timelines measured in decades. Pell Grant students should also assess Hartford's 54% completion rate as a material risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income students ($30,001 - $75,000) pay between $24,512 and $27,277 annually. The relatively flat pricing across income bands reflects moderate institutional aid differentiation. Middle-income students face the same program-selection imperative: nursing, engineering, and health professional programs justify the cost; arts and communications programs require careful financial stress-testing.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($75,001 and above) pay $30,956 - $34,833 annually - approaching $124,000 - $139,000 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Hartford with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology | $49,642 | D |
| Music | $43,700 | F |
| Registered Nursing | $104,301 | A |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $60,274 | D |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $78,761 | B+ |
| Mechanical Engineering | $88,530 | B |
| Engineering Technologies | $60,715 | D |
| Design and Applied Arts | $51,607 | D |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $44,550 | F |
| Teacher Education, Subject-Specific | $45,125 | 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
Registered Nursing earns an A grade - Hartford's highest-performing program - with first-year median earnings of $106,348 and four-year median earnings of $104,301. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.245 is excellent relative to the $26,062 median debt. With 52 graduates, the cohort is statistically meaningful. This program represents the clearest positive ROI case at Hartford and a compelling reason to consider the institution for health-science-oriented students.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering earns a B grade with first-year earnings of $73,871 and four-year earnings of $88,530. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.366 is reasonable. With 31 graduates, the cohort is adequate. Hartford's engineering programs serve Connecticut's aerospace and defense manufacturing corridor - including Pratt and Whitney and other United Technologies suppliers - supporting strong technical placement. Engineering is among Hartford's most financially defensible non-nursing program offerings.
Accounting
Accounting earns a C+ grade with four-year median earnings of $84,114 and first-year earnings of $51,981. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.505 is moderate. With 20 graduates, the cohort is small. Hartford's location in the Greater Hartford insurance and financial services ecosystem - one of the largest concentrations of insurance industry employment in the United States - creates meaningful employer access for accounting and finance graduates.
Music
Music earns an F grade with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.102 against first-year earnings of $24,511 and four-year earnings of $43,700. Median debt is the maximum Scorecard value of $27,000. With 57 graduates, this is one of Hartford's larger measured programs. The Hartt School is a nationally recognized conservatory with genuine artistic mission, but students and families must understand clearly that professional music careers produce structurally low early wages across most performance and music education pathways. The financial risk at this price point is high without substantial grant support or family means.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Film/Video and Photographic Arts earns an F grade with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.541. First-year median earnings of $17,521 against maximum measured debt of $27,000 create severe early financial stress. With 24 graduates, this is a meaningful cohort.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 74.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 77.5% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 73.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 77.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Hartford’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 | 95.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-650 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 570-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 24-30 |
| Enrollment | 4,146 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 33.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,428 |
Hartford admits 96% of applicants, with SAT scores of 550 - 650 math and 570 - 660 reading, and ACT of 24 - 30. The broadly accessible admissions process and diverse program offerings - from engineering and nursing to music performance and film - serve a wide range of academic profiles. Students with strong preparation in their intended major area, particularly in STEM or health sciences, are well-positioned. Financial aid awards vary significantly by program and student profile; using the net price calculator before enrolling is strongly recommended.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Hartford's extreme program outcome range - from an A-grade nursing program to F-grade arts programs - is its defining characteristic. In our view, the 49 overall ROI score is driven primarily by its arts program concentration and the completion rate.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Hartford (this school) | 49 | $30,282 | $60,823 |
| Park University | 50 | $21,032 | $56,309 |
| University of the Incarnate Word | 45 | $22,775 | $56,733 |
| National Louis University | 40 | $12,641 | $45,799 |
| Albertus Magnus College | 39 | $34,028 | $60,144 |
| University of Bridgeport | 27 | $27,807 | $50,323 |
Who Thrives Here
The University of Hartford fits two very different student populations whose financial outcomes diverge sharply. Nursing, engineering, rehabilitation therapy, and accounting students will find defensible return on investment from programs that produce strong early career earnings. Students pursuing music, fine arts, film, and performing arts are entering fields with structurally low early wages and high debt relative to income - a combination that requires deliberate financial planning, family support, or alternative funding strategies to avoid severe post-graduation financial stress. The 54% completion rate is a material risk factor regardless of program.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of Hartford is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $30,282 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $60,823 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.1 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: a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67 (median across the schools we score: 0.61).
Median debt of $27,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
University of Hartford: Common Questions
Is University of Hartford worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of Hartford scores 49/100 on our ROI scale. At $30,282 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $60,823 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.1 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of Hartford 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 $30,282 a year, or roughly $121,128 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 Hartford graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $60,823 ten years after enrolling, roughly $19,023 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 Hartford?
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 10.1 years for University of Hartford. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Hartford graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $40,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at University of Hartford?
The six-year graduation rate is 54.4%. 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.