Cost Comparison of Colleges in Connecticut

From community colleges, to state universities, to an Ivy League school, Connecticut offers many opportunities for students of all academic talents, economic backgrounds, and interests. Here is a look at the costs associated with attending a few of Connecticut’s colleges:

University of Connecticut: In-state tuition: $8,256 per year; Estimated yearly expenses including room and board: $21,720. The tuition remains the same at regional campuses, but with no residency or meal plan offered, the total cost is estimated to be $14,124. Out-of-state tuition at Storrs jumps to $25,152 with total costs estimated to be $38,616. As you can imagine, per credit costs vary by program. For example, it’s $568 per credit for an undergraduate course, versus $1,018 per credit for a graduate course in, say, the School of Pharmacy. You should also know that in December, UConn trustees voted for four years of tuition increases which will amount to about 6% each year.

While most of the headlines Connecticut’s flagship university gets are generated by the school’s highly successful men’s and women’s basketball teams, U.S. News and World Report ranks UConn as one of the top 20 public universities in the country. It is a popular choice for in-state residents given its affordability when compared to private colleges, its reputation that has grown tremendously over the years, and its top ranked programs in Business, Education, Pharmacy, Nursing, and Law, to name just a few. There were 17,815 undergraduates enrolled at Storrs last fall, with an additional 4,657 enrolled at regional campuses.

Southern Connecticut State University: In-state tuition: $2,062 per semester, $4,124 with additional fees; Full-year total: $8,248. Room and board costs range from $3,589 to $6,851 per semester. With tuition and room and board, you’re looking at a total cost of around $14,000 per year. Not a bad deal when you compare that with other colleges.

About 12,000 students are enrolled at Southern Connecticut, located less than three miles from downtown New Haven. Originally founded as a teachers college in 1893, the school offers 116 graduate and undergraduate programs.

Norwalk Community College: Whether you need to fulfill a course requirement or you want to pursue a degree, this may be the place for you. As an example, NCC is home to a highly-regarded nursing program, a four-semester program that leads to licensure through the Connecticut State Board of Examiners for Nursing. Not your calling? NCC offers programs in Business Administration, Communications, Criminal Justice, Marketing, and plenty more. The school is known for offering classes and programs that lead to a four-year degree.

What is the best part about it? The cost. For the Spring 2012 semester, a three-credit course will cost you $387 ($466 after additional fees) if you live in state. The total annual rate for a full-time student (12 or more credits per semester) is $3,490. NCC has about 6,500 students enrolled.

Sacred Heart University: Full-time undergraduate tuition: $16,237 per semester. Room and board: about $4,700 per semester. Total Cost per year: approximately $45,000. Hey, no one ever said private schools were cheap. Graduate fees are high with the College of Health Professions charging $815 per credit. Sacred Heart has a very popular School of Education that costs about $580 per credit.

Sacred Heart is the second largest Catholic university in New England. Its main campus is located in Fairfield, just outside of Bridgeport. The university offers 45 degree programs and is comprised of five colleges: the College of Arts & Sciences, College of Health Professions, College of Education, University College, and the College of Business. More than 90% of full time undergraduate students receive financial help. There are 1,000 students in the Class of 2015.

Yale University: Full-year tuition with room and board: $52,700, $40,500 without room and board. The total costs for a resident law student would be approximately $72,675 per year.

Yale is ranked third in U.S. News and World Report’s latest college rankings. The university has 13 professional schools, including a top ranked School of Law, School of Medicine, and School of Art. U.S. News lists its Fall 2010 acceptance rate at 8%. Yale has over 5,000 undergraduate students, over 6,000 graduate students, and an endowment of $16.5 billion. The name speaks for itself. So do the tuition costs and admission requirements.

Sources:
Uconn Admissions
UConn Bursar Office
UConn Rankings
UConn Enrollment
Southern Connecticut State University Bursar Office
SCSU Room and Board
About SCSU
Norwalk Community College Tuition and Fees
About Norwalk Community College
Norwalk Community College Academic Programs
Sacred Heart University Undergraduate Tuition
Sacred Heart University Graduate Tuition
Sacred Heart Facts
Yale Financial Regulations
Yale Law School Costs
Yale U.S. News and World Report Ranking
Yale Facts