Connecticut College
Connecticut College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Connecticut College at a Glance
Connecticut College (Conn) is a private liberal arts college in New London, Connecticut. Originally chartered as Thames College but soon changed to Connecticut College for Women, it was founded in 1911 as the state's only women's college, a response to Wesleyan University having closed its doors to female students in 1909. The college became coeducational in 1969, adopting its current name.
1911
115 years old
$511M
$510.9 million (2025)
1,990
281
750 acres
Identity
Is Connecticut College Worth It?
Connecticut College offers moderate value at $36,175/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $75,001, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.9 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 83% graduation rate means roughly 17% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Connecticut College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #11 of 23 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 | Lafayette College | 58 | $34,433 | $91,410 |
| #2 | Trinity College | 54 | $34,832 | $90,779 |
| #3 | Union College | 53 | $34,561 | $88,604 |
| #4 | Bryn Mawr College | 49 | $31,759 | $75,217 |
| #5 | Mount Holyoke College | 47 | $26,441 | $58,418 |
| #6 | Gettysburg College | 47 | $31,490 | $71,517 |
| #11 | Connecticut College | 43 | $36,175 | $75,001 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Connecticut College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in CT.
Best Programs at Connecticut College
The highest-earning program at Connecticut College is Economics at $50,900/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Psychology, General at $31,700/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Economics graduate from Connecticut College earns $50,900, while a Psychology, General graduate earns $31,700. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Economics graduates carry $26,887 in median debt vs. $22,506 for Psychology, General.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $36,175/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economics | $50,900 | $50,900 | $26,887 |
| Political Science and Government | $45,300 | $45,300 | $23,000 |
| Sociology | $40,200 | $40,200 | $12,210 |
| Area Studies | $35,600 | $35,600 | $20,951 |
| History | $32,300 | $32,300 | $22,938 |
| Psychology, General | $31,700 | $31,700 | $22,506 |
Similar Colleges in CT
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- New London, CT
- Student Body
- 1,937 students
- Admission Rate
- 37%
- Graduation Rate
- 83%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $36,175
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $75,001
- Median Student Debt
- $23,500