Online Degrees In Connecticut (CT)

Connecticut is home to such noteworthy schools as Wesleyan University, University of Connecticut and Yale University. That may be why a recent report from the Lumina Foundation shows that educational attainment in Connecticut is much higher than the national average. According to the study, 54.1 percent of Connecticut adults ages 25-64 held high-quality credentials, compared to just 47.6 percent of the adult population nationwide.

But even with this high rate of educational attainment, Connecticut still has room for improvement. Despite its impressive number of college-educated adults, employers are struggling to find workers trained in some of the state’s most in-demand fields; the Lumina report says that 60 percent of Americans will need some type of high-quality credential beyond high school to meet workforce demand.

Connecticut colleges that offer online degree programs can play an important role in meeting this rising demand while helping to accommodate the changing needs of students. Check out the guide below for more information on earning online degrees in Connecticut.

Although Connecticut boasts a relatively high number of college-educated adults, the state’s economic growth has been stagnant in recent years. A mismatch between skill sets and available jobs may be to blame. Employers in several industries, including manufacturing, construction and health care, are facing significant labor shortage and may need to fill tens of thousands of jobs in the coming years.

But with a low unemployment rate of just 3.4 percent (as of September 2019), the vast majority of Connecticut residents already hold jobs. How are the roughly half of workers without postsecondary credentials but who are employed supposed to take classes, too? An online education in Connecticut may be the answer.

Online programs usually allow students to complete their school work according to their own schedules — rather than meeting at appointing class times and locations — as long as they meet their assignment deadlines. As long as they have computers and internet connections, any place can be your classroom, whether it’s 2 p.m. or 2 a.m.

Plus, in this state with one of the nation’s highest costs of living, it may help knowing that earning these postsecondary credentials pays off. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says that median weekly earnings increase with every level of education beyond high school — from $730/week for high school diploma only to $862 for an associate degree and $1,198 for a bachelor’s degree.

To help make it easier to select from online degrees in Connecticut, we’ve used a methodology to evaluate Connecticut colleges that offer 2- and 4-year online degree programs. Our methodology considers factors such as tuition and fees, retention rates, graduation rates, percent of students awarded financial aid, placement services for graduates and more.

1
Albertus Magnus College
New Haven, CT
https://www.albertus.edu
Average in-state tuition
$31,570
No. of online programs
17
% of students in distance education
46%
Avg. amount of Aid
$15,107
Admissions Rate
58%
Graduation Rate
72%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
2
Post University
Waterbury, CT
https://www.post.edu/
Average in-state tuition
$15,258
No. of online programs
42
% of students in distance education
92%
Avg. amount of Aid
$6,014
Admissions Rate
53%
Graduation Rate
20%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
3
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT
https://uconn.edu/
Average in-state tuition
$12,848
No. of online programs
30
% of students in distance education
12%
Avg. amount of Aid
$12,613
Admissions Rate
49%
Graduation Rate
85%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
4
Three Rivers Community College
Norwich, CT
https://www.threerivers.edu
Average in-state tuition
$3,912
No. of online programs
1
% of students in distance education
35%
Avg. amount of Aid
$4,249
Admissions Rate
N/A%
Graduation Rate
N/A%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
5
Asnuntuck Community College
Enfield, CT
https://www.Asnuntuck.edu
Average in-state tuition
$3,912
No. of online programs
4
% of students in distance education
22%
Avg. amount of Aid
$3,737
Admissions Rate
N/A%
Graduation Rate
N/A%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
6
University of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, CT
https://www.bridgeport.edu
Average in-state tuition
$30,750
No. of online programs
13
% of students in distance education
34%
Avg. amount of Aid
$22,439
Admissions Rate
57%
Graduation Rate
42%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
7
Sacred Heart University
Fairfield, CT
https://www.sacredheart.edu
Average in-state tuition
$41,150
No. of online programs
6
% of students in distance education
31%
Avg. amount of Aid
$16,740
Admissions Rate
60%
Graduation Rate
70%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
8
Tunxis Community College
Farmington, CT
https://www.tunxis.edu
Average in-state tuition
$3,912
No. of online programs
5
% of students in distance education
30%
Avg. amount of Aid
$4,235
Admissions Rate
N/A%
Graduation Rate
N/A%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
No
9
Capital Community College
Hartford, CT
https://www.ccc.commnet.edu
Average in-state tuition
$3,912
No. of online programs
1
% of students in distance education
34%
Avg. amount of Aid
$5,805
Admissions Rate
N/A%
Graduation Rate
N/A%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
Yes
10
Housatonic Community College
Bridgeport, CT
https://www.hcc.commnet.edu
Average in-state tuition
$3,912
No. of online programs
0
% of students in distance education
20%
Avg. amount of Aid
$4,434
Admissions Rate
N/A%
Graduation Rate
N/A%
Career Counseling
Yes
Placement Services
No
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2018-19, National Center for Education Statistics, http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/

If you’re looking to choose online degrees in Connecticut that align with the needs of its employers, the following list can help. We’ve drawn data from the National Center for Education Statistics to create this list of top online degree programs in Connecticut, which may be offered fully or only partially online.

Program Name
No. of online programs
Business Administration and Management, General
11
General Studies
9
Accounting
6
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
5
Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
5
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
4
Organizational Behavior Studies
3
Educational/Instructional Technology
3
Human Services, General
3
Management Information Systems, General
2

When it comes to making sure you’re earning a quality online education in Connecticut, the state’s membership in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA) is an important component. Institutions in the state who participate in SARA are voluntarily agreeing that their distance education programs will adhere to consistently quality guidelines as other programs in other states. Participating in this agreement makes it easier for students to take high-quality online courses offered by postsecondary institutions in Connecticut, or vice versa, while ensuring comparable quality among those programs.

Additionally, individual online colleges make their own efforts to assure students of their quality. For example, the University of Connecticut’s (UCONN’s) eCampus courses are developed according to standards for course design set by Quality Matters (QM), a quality-assurance organization for distance education. Gateway Community College employs dedicated Distance Learning personnel who establish and preserve design standards for online courses and train faculty in this delivery mode to ensure consistent online course quality. And the University of Saint Joseph’s Teaching & Learning Center is a dedicated center to assist faculty with training in learning technologies, online course design and more. Make sure you explore prospective programs to see what efforts they’re making to ensure quality.

Unlike with traditional, campus-based colleges, which you can visit and tour, it’s often difficult to get a feeling for the student experience at online colleges. To assist with this selection process, the National Council of SARA has developed several criteria for students to consider in narrowing down their choices. These include:

Managing expectations: It’s important to know both what the program requires of you (time commitment, face-to-face activity requirements, etc.) and what you need from the program (quality, level of training/credentials, flexible scheduling, etc.). Make sure the two are in harmony.

Considering the learning experience: Talk to instructors, administrators and even former or current students to discover what it’s actually like to be a student in this program on a day-to-day basis. Make sure the experience is one you’re looking for.

Looking for support: Research suggests that support from school faculty and staff correlates to higher student retention and success. How much support will you get at these prospective programs? Services may include tutoring, writing and math centers, advisement, mentoring and coaching, career planning help and more.

When deciding among online degrees in Connecticut, it may be helpful to know which fields are growing the fastest in the state. This list of top occupations in Connecticut comes from Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS’) latest employment data.

Occupation
Number of Workers
Median Salary
Office and Administrative Support Occupations224,470$44,110
Sales and Related Occupations156,010$32,090
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations137,680$25,670
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations121,750$33,880
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations121,290$61,930
Management Occupations120,810$126,910
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations105,800$78,730
Business and Financial Operations Occupations94,570$77,100
Production Occupations93,440$42,000
Healthcare Support Occupations77,930$31,860
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations55,830$33,570
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations53,980$55,330
Construction and Extraction Occupations51,040$58,290
Computer and Mathematical Occupations48,650$90,270
Personal Care and Service Occupations47,440$28,230
Cashiers45,010$24,410
Retail Salespersons41,900$27,670
Protective Service Occupations36,120$51,290
Architecture and Engineering Occupations35,730$87,150
Registered Nurses34,740$81,630

Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov.

Top Metropolitan Areas in Connecticut

Connecticut has been known as an industrial leader since the American Revolution, when it was the site of firearm production. Manufacturing continues to play a critical role in the state’s economy; it’s home to such worldwide companies as Xerox, G.E., Uniroyal, Champion International and Union Carbide. As of October 2019, the state had posted 24 consecutive months of manufacturing growth, hitting a record high number of jobs in the industry. Finance and insurance also are critical industries in Connecticut, thanks to 106 insurance companies that are based here. High-tech jobs are growing, with new and expanding companies hiring thousands of new employees, and health care is growing due to a rapidly growing population of seniors.

Here’s a look at the top occupations in some of Connecticut’s major metropolitan areas:

Hartford – West Hartford – East Hartford: Situated in the middle of the state at the intersection of several major interstates, this area benefits from being a transportation/trade/utility hub (an occupational group employing 91,700 residents) and being within a two-hour drive from over 23 million people. Other important industries are insurance, aerospace, manufacturing and health care.

Waterbury: This city at the crossroads of Interstates 95 and 84 is experiencing revitalization in its downtown core, meaning that construction is booming. It’s home to Post University’s online graduate classes, administrative offices and Information Technology Center and a thriving manufacturing sector. Educational and health services, trade/transportation/utilities and goods-producing industries (manufacturing and construction) employ the highest numbers of people in Waterbury.

New Haven: Located in southern Connecticut along the Long Island Sound, New Haven is situated well to be a hub for trade/transportation/utilities jobs. It has the second-largest bioscience cluster in New England and is home to eight colleges and universities, where considerable innovation is taking place and giving birth to startups; New Haven is a top destination for entrepreneurs. Not surprisingly, educational and health services employ the highest concentrations of residents. Government jobs and manufacturing also employ high numbers of workers.

Unfortunately, Connecticut’s reputation as a leading provider of higher education also comes with a hefty price tag. Its students graduated with the highest student loan debt in the nation in 2017, reported CTPost.com.

Fortunately, the state offers options to help students afford college. Chief among these is the Roberta B. Willis Scholarship. This need- and merit-based grant is offered to residents who are Connecticut high school seniors or graduates with high school ranks of 20 percent or better and/or SAT scores of at least 1200 or ACT scores of at least 25 who are enrolled full time in four-year programs of study. The recipients must attend Connecticut public or nonprofit private colleges. A need-based-only scholarship is also available for students attending Connecticut public or nonprofit private colleges who qualify with eligible Expected Family Contributions according to their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Students may also benefit from the New England Board of Higher Education’s Tuition Break program, which provides New England residents discounts on more than 315,000 annual tuition bills. Students in New England who wish to earn their online education in Connecticut may qualify for Tuition Break. In the 2018-19 school year, full-time students in the program received an average tuition break of $7,900.

Scholarship Listing

Nutmeg Scholarship
No. of Awards
14
Deadline
December 1
Max. Award Amount
20,000
Renewable
Yes
Criteria
Applicant must be a Connecticut high school senior with exceptional academic accomplishments, and be an outstanding student.
More
Cindy Luberto Scholarship for Women Athletes
No. of Awards
1
Deadline
April 10
Max. Award Amount
500
Renewable
No
Criteria
Applicants must be female high school seniors and participate in a sport that is organized, recreational or intramural. Selection is based on a 250-word essay describing the passion for the sport that is played and how that sport or your participation is unique.
More
Connecticut Aid for Public College Students
No. of Awards
N/A
Deadline
Open
Max. Award Amount
N/A
Renewable
No
Criteria
Applicants must be Connecticut residents attending a public Connecticut college or university. The award is based on financial need.
More
Governor's Scholarship - Need and Merit-Based Award
No. of Awards
N/A
Deadline
February 15
Max. Award Amount
5,000
Renewable
No
Criteria
Applicants must be a high school senior or high school graduate with a high school junior year class rank of 20 percent or better. Students must have a minimum SAT score of 1800 or ACT score of 27 and plan to attend a Connecticut public or non-profit private college. Selection is based on financial need and academic merit.
More
Governor's Scholarship - Need-Based Award
No. of Awards
N/A
Deadline
Open
Max. Award Amount
3,000
Renewable
No
Criteria
Applicants must be attending a public or non-profit private Connecticut college or university and be enrolled in full-time study in a two- or four-year program. Students must have a federal Expected Family Contribution within the allowable range. Selection is based on need.
More

Source: Scholarship directory data is copyrighted material which is reproduced on this website by permission of CollegeXpress, a division of Carnegie Dartlet. Copyright © 2020 by CollegeXpress.

You should expect some Connecticut colleges that offer online degree programs to require ACT or SAT exam scores as part of their admissions packages. For example, Central Connecticut State University and UCONN require one or the other. Some, like Connecticut College and Post University, only recommend, but don’t require these tests. On the other hand, some schools, such as Goodwin College and Sacred Heart University, have no test scores requirements. Check with your prospective schools for details on what’s required.


See Methodology Information Here

Sources:

  • College Navigator: Connecticut, Institute for Education Studies, National Center for Education, accessed October 28, 2019, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?s=CT&pg=1
  • Connecticut’s progress toward the goal, A Stronger Nation, Lumina Foundation, February 2019, http://strongernation.luminafoundation.org/report/2019/#state/CT
  • David Payne, “Kiplinger’s Economic Outlook for All 50 States, 2020,” Kiplinger, Oct. 16, 2019, https://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/business/T019-S010-kiplinger-economic-outlook-for-all-50-states-2020/index/
  • “Student Questions,” NC-SARA, accessed October 23, 2019, https://www.nc-sara.org/student-questions
  • Economy, Connecticut’s Official State Website, accessed Oct. 28, 2019, https://portal.ct.gov/About/Economy
  • Mark Pazniokas, “Connecticut looks for a future in its manufacturing past,” The CT Mirror, Oct. 21, 2019, https://ctmirror.org/2019/10/21/connecticut-looks-for-future-in-its-manufacturing-past/
  • Ana Radelat, “Election renews focus on college debt as burden grows for CT grads,” The CT Mirror, Oct. 25, 2019, https://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Election-renews-focus-on-college-debt-as-burden-14562137.php?src=ctphpln
  • Scott Cohn, “The most expensive places to live in America,” CNBC, July 10, 2018, https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/28/these-are-americas-most-expensive-states-to-live-in-for-2018/
  • About eCampus, UCONN, accessed Oct. 28, 2019, http://ecampus.uconn.edu/about/
  • Mission Statement, Gateway Community College, accessed Oct. 28, 2019, https://gatewayct.edu/Academic-Affairs/Distance-Learning
  • Teaching & Learning Center, University of Saint Joseph, accessed Oct. 28, 2019, https://www.usj.edu/academics/academic-services/teaching-learning-center/
  • What is Tuition Break?, New England Board of Higher Education, accessed Oct. 28, 2019, https://nebhe.org/tuitionbreak/
  • State of Connecticut Employment – Current Employment Statistics, Labor Market Information, Connecticut Department of Labor, Oct. 17, 2019, https://www1.ctdol.state.ct.us/lmi/ces/nfstatcm.asp
  • Elka Torpey, “Education Pays,” Bureau of Labor Statistics, Feb. 2019, https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2019/data-on-display/education_pays.htm?view_full
  • Matt Pilon, “Building Connecticut’s Workforce Pipeline,” Hartford Business Journal, Aug. 27, 2018, https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/states-labor-challenges-are-many
  • Kevin Kruger & Dave Jarrat, “Student Affairs Goes Digital: Translating Student Support to the World of Online Learning,” Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Dec. 16, 2018, https://diverseeducation.com/article/134371/
  • Economic Development, Metro Hartford Alliance, accessed Oct. 28, 2019, https://www.metrohartford.com/economic-development
  • Economic Development, City of Waterbury, accessed Oct. 28, 2019, https://www.waterburyct.org/economicdevelopment
  • Why New Haven?, The Official Website of the City of New Haven, accessed Oct. 28, 2019, https://www.newhavenct.gov/gov/depts/ed/why.htm
  • Facts About Student Aid, State of Connecticut Office of Higher Education, accessed Oct. 28, 2019, https://www.ohe.ct.gov/SFA/sfa.shtml#Governor
Methodologies and Sources