Charter Oak State College
Charter Oak State College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Charter Oak State College at a Glance
Charter Oak State College is a public online college based in New Britain, Connecticut. The college was founded in 1973 by the Connecticut Legislature and offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees.
1973
53 years old
2,330
Identity
Is Charter Oak State College Worth It?
Charter Oak State College delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $15,815/year, it's priced 22% below average, while graduates go on to earn $64,209 — 19% above the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 67% graduation rate means roughly 33% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Charter Oak State College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in CT
Ranked #13 of 71 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #2 | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | 100 | $9,873 | $76,489 |
| #3 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus | 95 | $10,875 | $73,997 |
| #4 | Bellingham Technical College | 92 | $5,997 | $49,748 |
| #5 | University of Minnesota-Morris | 90 | $8,837 | $50,919 |
| #6 | Virginia Military Institute | 89 | $17,113 | $77,369 |
| #13 | Charter Oak State College | 68 | $15,815 | $64,209 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Charter Oak State College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 3 in CT.
Best Programs at Charter Oak State College
The highest-earning program at Charter Oak State College is Health and Medical Administrative Services at $51,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities at $41,500/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Health and Medical Administrative Services graduate from Charter Oak State College earns $51,800, while a Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities graduate earns $41,500. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Health and Medical Administrative Services graduates carry $21,488 in median debt vs. $16,775 for Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $15,815/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $51,800 | $51,800 | $21,488 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $41,500 | $41,500 | $16,775 |
Similar Colleges in CT
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- New Britain, CT
- Student Body
- 1,821 students
- Graduation Rate
- 67%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $15,815
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $64,209
- Median Student Debt
- $18,683