Best Colleges in Connecticut
Connecticut has 1,065 miles of coastal shoreline and is the southernmost part of the New England region. Colleges in Connecticut include the state’s public institutions, the Connecticut State system, as well as the United States Coast Guard Academy. The oldest institution in the Constitution State is Yale University, established in 1701. Top industries are advanced manufacturing, bioscience, digital media, and green technology, as well as insurance and financial services. As the third smallest state in the US, it can be traversed from end to end in less than two hours and has a “humid continental climate,” meaning cold winters and humid summers. It’s home to the Holy Land, USA, the Mystic Seaport, and the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History.
How Were the Top Schools in Connecticut Chosen?
Appily determines “Best Colleges” based on publicly-available information from the US Department of Education. Several factors include, but are not limited to, data about admitted students’ academic calibers, students’ expected career outcomes after graduation, and colleges’ investments toward making their institution accessible to all students.
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Founded in 1831 by a group of local citizens and Methodist leaders, Wesleyan University is a liberal arts institution in central Connecticut. Wesleyan confers bachelor’s degrees in 45 academic majors. For students interested in the fine and...
Around campus, there is a general environment of smart, open-minded individuals who are, by a large margin, happy to be at Wesleyan. The free exchange of ideas is valued greatly by students and professors alike. The professors are very engaging and...
” – Brendan from Middletown, CT
Yale University is a large research institution chartered in 1701, making it the third-oldest institution of higher education in the US. On top of the numerous academic undergrad degrees at Yale College, students also have access to Multidisciplinary...
It is hard to limit yourself to only 4 or 5 courses with all that Yale has to offer. It isn't unheard of for very ambitious students to pile on 6 or even 7 at a time! Many classes will push you hard to master the material, but there are always a...
” – Yale '12
Originally founded as Washington College in 1823, Trinity College is a 4-year liberal arts college in Hartford and the second oldest college in Connecticut. Trinity offers bachelor’s degrees in 41 academic majors and provides the chance to earn 200...
All of the professors under whom I have studied so far have shown themselves to be extremely knowledgeable. The quality of the education, combined with the academic atmosphere, can be highly beneficial no matter what kind of learner you are.
” – Edwin from Havre, MT
With campus overlooking the Thames River and Long Island Sound, Connecticut College is a 4-year liberal arts college in southeast Connecticut. Connecticut grants bachelor’s degrees in 70 academic fields of study and students also have the opportunity...
Connecticut College provides a personalized approach to a liberal arts education. Each student is given the opportunity to craft their own major and minor to ensure a successful future. Undoubtedly, Conn students are on a fast track to a career in...
” – Olivia from Hopewell Junction, NY
Founded by the Society of Jesus, Fairfield University is a 4-year Jesuit institution in coastal Connecticut. Fairfield provides a liberal arts education and offers degrees in 44 academic majors as well as 16 interdisciplinary majors. As a Catholic...
The teachers focus on broadening your view and the extensive core forces you to study fields you would have never considered, but could decide major in.
” – Kristin from Martinsville, NJ
The University of Connecticut is a public research university that houses 14 schools and colleges, and more than 100 undergraduate majors. Centered around Horsebarn Hill, the university features a floriculture greenhouse, animal barns, and Dairy Bar...
The classes are very in depth. With the size of the classes, there isn't much one one one time with the professor, if any, so how much you learn depends completely on you. You can choose to stay on top of things on your own or you can utilize the...
” – Lilia from Willington, CT
A private university located in Hamden, Connecticut, Quinnipiac engages and serves a diverse student body and offers an educational experience that is both personal and challenging. Quinnipiac's academic centers and institutes pair students and...
The professors at Quinnipiac University are extremely helpful. Sure, you'll find an exception to that rule, but I have found that the majority of teachers excel at aiding their students in their education, and personal growth. I dare say that in my...
” – Gray from Kinnelon, NJ
The University of Saint Joseph is a private Roman Catholic institution that focuses on Christian values. The 90-acre campus features a ministry, an athletic center, an interdisciplinary writing center, a center for student research, eight science...
The professors here are incredibly knowledgeable about their subject areas. They are all sociable, and incredibly helpful. I learn more then just what's in the text books.
” – Victoria from Cheshire, CT
Sacred Heart University is a Catholic liberal arts institution in southwest Connecticut and the first Catholic university in the nation to be staffed by non-clergy members. The second largest Catholic university in the Northeast, Sacred Heart is home...
I learned more my first semester then I did of two years of high school.
” – Jaclyn from wolcott, CT
Spread across seven dynamic schools and colleges, UHart is a four-year private nonprofit university that has been guiding the purpose and passion of undergraduate and graduate students for over six decades. Centrally located alongside Connecticut’s...
The first year at any college, you will have to take classes outside of your major. Hartford has All University Curriculum classes (normally referred to as Gen-Eds). The classes fall under the categories of Arts, Culture, Technology and Science....
” – Sarah R.
College exceeded. A top military college granting Bachelor of Science degrees, the Coast Guard Academy has nine majors that make the world a better place. Once graduated, cadets become commissioned officers in the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard Academy is a highly competitive school both academically and militarily. I have been faced with my hardest challenges here. I would make the choice to come here a thousand times over.
” – Chase from Allyn, WA
Albertus Magnus College is a private, Christ-centered institution established in New Haven, Connecticut, halfway between Boston and New York City. The college offers over 50 major and minor areas of study for undergraduates, as well as 10 graduate...
Central Connecticut State University is Connecticut’s oldest public university and the largest institution in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system. CCSU is home to schools of Business, Education, Engineering, and Graduate Studies...
I am in the Schools Honor program and am learning so much from all of my honors and non honors classes. most of my teachers have been very helpful and they all know what they are talking about and are enthusiastic about it. I am also learning a lot...
” – Jessica from South Windsor, CT
Originally founded on the Yale campus in 1920, the University of New Haven is a 4-year private institution on the New Haven coast. UNH is home to six colleges and schools offering bachelor’s degrees in over 100 fields of study. Additionally, the UNH...
I can say that college is definitely different from high school but at the end of the day it is all about how much effort you put into your work. The University of New Haven has so much to offer. There's tutoring readily available, mentors for us...
” – Julissa from New York, NY
Founded in 1889, Eastern Connecticut State University is a 4-year liberal arts institution and the third oldest public university in Connecticut. ECSU confers bachelor’s degrees in 36 academic majors and all students are required to fulfill...
It's not UConn, but that's a part of its draw. I doubt you'll take any classes with more than thirty people, whereas your freshman classes at UConn might have upwards of fifty, maybe a hundred. I'm not saying it's a bad school, but UConn is a...
” – Miles from Storrs Mansfield, CT
Western Connecticut State University is a 4-year institution calling Danbury, CT, home. The university is comprised of two campuses within 3 miles of each other: a 34-acre campus downtown called Midtown and a 364-acre campus called Westside. WCSU is...
With professors that are clearly knowledgeable in their respective profession, a quality education is sure to be attained while attending WestConn. Not only do every one of the teachers I have studied under have given me a quality education with...
” – Michael from Charlton, MA
Southern Connecticut State University is a public institution focused on liberal arts and professional training. SCSU is part of the Connecticut State University System and is located in New Haven, Connecticut. All students must complete a Liberal...
Southern Connecticut State University offers a vast amount of courses dealing with culture, liberal arts and offers several majors and masters programs. For example the study abroad program is an amazing opportunity that students can experience.
” – Jessica from East Haven, CT
With campus along the coast of the Long Island Sound, the University of Bridgeport is a private institution in southern Connecticut. UB is home to colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business, and Health Sciences offering degrees in over 125 academic...
Within the University of Bridgeport, the classroom ratio, students to teacher, is 17:1. The classroom has very little students in each class. For example, if you are taking an English 101 class there are about 20 english 101 classes giving during...
” – Alicia from Brooklyn, NY
University of Connecticut-Stamford is an extension campus of UConn founded in 1952. The university operates the Connecticut Information Technology Institute which provides cyber-business research and IT developments. It is home to an outdoor park...
Be especially careful when choosing your professors. I use Ratemyproff to carefully select mine. There may be a required class which only has one prof, if that's the case try to get a tutor (I use Wyzant).
Don't be scared though, I've had amazing...
” – Melissa from Stamford, CTMitchell College is a private institution located in New London, Connecticut, along the Thames River. The school provides a liberal arts education as well as professional studies. Popular majors include communications, homeland security, and...
Good, Helpful, Expensive.
” – Estephanie from Sleepy Hollow, NY