University of New Haven
West Haven, Connecticut · Private Nonprofit · 60.4% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 48/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
The University of New Haven (UNH) is a private university in West Haven, CT, enrolling about 4,841 students. Sticker tuition of $47,332 and a net price of $34,192 are high, and the data shows the strain. Its ROI score of 48 (Below Average Value) reflects average six-year earnings of $40,500, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.67, and an 11-year payback period - a long timeline at premium pricing. The school's most popular programs - criminal justice (247 graduates) and security science (102 graduates) - reflect a distinctive national brand in forensics, criminal justice, and homeland security, but even these programs produce ratios in the C-to-D range at New Haven's net price. Engineering, accounting, and chemical engineering tell a different story: graduates in those fields earn above $80,000 at four years with ratios below 0.38. The completion rate is 63.1%. UNH's value proposition depends almost entirely on program selection.
University of New Haven
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $47,332/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $47,332/yr |
| Average net price | $34,192/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $136,768 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $60,126 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 11 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 63.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,841 |
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: $47,332/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $34,192/year, or roughly $136,768 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 $27,837/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $38,385/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 ($40,500) 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 | $27,837 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $29,043 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $31,601 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $34,853 |
| $110,001+ | $38,385 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income students (under $30,000) pay $27,837 net - a steep price that reflects UNH's limited financial aid for lower-income families compared to its sticker reduction. Four-year investment approaches $111,000. With average six-year earnings of $40,500, the payback timeline extends well beyond 11 years unless the student is in a high-ROI program. Low-income students at UNH should prioritize accounting, engineering, or nursing-adjacent tracks where earnings clear $70,000 in year one.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001 - $75,000 band pays $31,601 net, with a four-year commitment over $126,000. This is expensive territory, and the 48/100 ROI score reflects that at the institutional average, middle-income families are not getting premium returns for a premium price. Program discipline is essential. An engineering or accounting UNH graduate at these costs reaches positive ROI within 5 - 7 years; a communication or music graduate may not reach it at all in a financially meaningful timeframe.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 pay $38,385 net - nearly $154,000 over four years.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of New Haven with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $60,656 | D |
| Psychology | $55,058 | D |
| Security Science and Technology | $63,360 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $59,107 | D |
| Mechanical Engineering | $89,099 | B |
| Music | $47,057 | F |
| Civil Engineering | $83,798 | B |
| Design and Applied Arts | $31,975 | F |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management | $50,112 | F |
| Dental Support Services | $73,231 | B |
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.
Accounting
Accounting is UNH's highest-ROI program by grade (A) - $86,158 at four years against $20,772 in median debt yields a 0.24 ratio. Only 16 graduates reported, so the cohort is small, but the direction is clear: accounting at UNH, a school embedded in the New England financial corridor, produces CPA-track results. Students who pair an accounting degree with UNH's forensic accounting specialization gain a competitive differentiator in the audit and fraud investigation market.
Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering (25 graduates) earns $70,495 at one year and $83,798 at four, with a 0.38 ratio and B grade. Connecticut's aging infrastructure and the Northeast's construction boom create sustained demand for CE graduates.
Security Science and Technology
Security Science (102 graduates - the second-largest reported cohort) earns $40,889 at one year and $63,360 at four, with a 0.66 ratio and C grade. The program feeds federal and private sector security roles, and UNH's brand is recognized in law enforcement and intelligence hiring. At the school's net price, the ratio is challenging - but federal agency positions with cleared status, benefits, and retirement can transform lifetime ROI substantially beyond what undergraduate Scorecard data captures.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice is UNH's largest graduate count program (247 reported). One-year earnings of $36,455 and four-year of $60,656 against $27,000 median debt produce a 0.74 ratio, graded D. The UNH forensic criminology brand is nationally known, and many graduates leverage it into law school, federal law enforcement, and crime analysis careers. At $34,000 net price, the long-term case requires graduate school planning or public service loan forgiveness alignment.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (29 graduates) earns $62,534 at one year and $89,099 at four, with a 0.43 ratio and B grade. New Haven's proximity to Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, and the Northeast manufacturing corridor provides solid placement. Among UNH's engineering programs, mechanical offers the broadest industry exposure and the clearest employer recognition. Students in this program at UNH's net price see competitive four-year earnings that justify the investment.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 72.6% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 78.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of New Haven’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 | 60.4% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 520-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 540-645 |
| Enrollment | 4,841 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 32.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $11,914 |
UNH admits 60% of applicants. SAT mid-range is 520 - 620 (math) and 540 - 645 (reading). ACT data not reported. The selectivity means UNH does filter for academic readiness, which partly explains the above-average 63% completion rate. Students interested in forensic science, forensic accounting, or engineering should confirm program-specific prerequisites and lab capacity during the visit process.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UNH's key differentiation is its criminal justice and forensic science reputation. However, the earnings data shows that brand recognition does not fully translate into premium earnings for most criminal justice graduates. UNH's completion rate is 63% and its repayment trajectory is 79% at year seven.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Haven (this school) | 48 | $34,192 | $60,126 |
| Park University | 50 | $21,032 | $56,309 |
| Touro University | 50 | $29,627 | $53,419 |
| Hampton University | 47 | $25,319 | $59,159 |
| Albertus Magnus College | 39 | $34,028 | $60,144 |
| University of Bridgeport | 27 | $27,807 | $50,323 |
Who Thrives Here
UNH is a natural fit for students interested in criminal justice, forensic science, and security technology - the programs that define the school's brand and national reputation. Engineering and accounting students get strong outcomes at high prices. Students drawn to music, arts, communications, or design face an uphill ROI battle that warrants serious financial planning. The 60% admission rate suggests a moderately selective process; test scores in the 520 - 645 range across sections are competitive.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of New Haven is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $34,192 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $60,126 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 11 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: weak earnings relative to cost, 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 $40,500 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 New Haven: Common Questions
Is University of New Haven worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of New Haven scores 48/100 on our ROI scale. At $34,192 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $60,126 ten years after entry, so it takes about 11 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 New Haven 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 $34,192 a year, or roughly $136,768 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 New Haven graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $60,126 ten years after enrolling, roughly $18,326 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 New Haven?
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 years for University of New Haven. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of New Haven graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $27,000, against average earnings of $40,500 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 New Haven?
The six-year graduation rate is 63.1%. 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.