Connecticut · Liberal Arts and Sciences

Best colleges for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Connecticut

Ranked by graduate earnings

Yale University, University of Connecticut and University of Bridgeport are the top bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Connecticut by graduate earnings. Yale University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $61,133, College Scorecard. Southern Connecticut State University, University of Connecticut and Central Connecticut State University award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Connecticut: 121, 120 and 61 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 19 Connecticut colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences and award 1,837 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…

Institutions
19
offering CIP 24.01
States & territories
59
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,837
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$39,764
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
10
College Scorecard
Median net price
$30,734
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
63%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Postsecondary Teachers, All Other
$84,830
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings

Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Yale University
New Haven Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$61,1332496%$27,025$15,750
2University of Connecticut
Storrs Public · Bachelor's degree
$44,24012083%—$22,000
3University of Bridgeport
Bridgeport Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$43,7432341%$25,149$32,147
4Eastern Connecticut State University
Willimantic Public · Bachelor's degree
$41,8705758%—$25,373
5Wesleyan University
Middletown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$39,7642593%$16,467$16,125
6Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven Public · Bachelor's degree
$36,16812150%—$26,625
7Western Connecticut State University
Danbury Public · Bachelor's degree
$27,7842752%—$26,782
8Charter Oak State College
New Britain Public · Bachelor's degree Online
$44,61510167%—$25,000

Top 2 certificate and associate programs

Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Hartford
West Hartford Private not-for-profit · Associate degree
$6,9927954%$28,311$12,000
2Connecticut State Community College
New Britain Public · Associate degree
$25,0721,05624%—$6,050

Colleges awarding the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Connecticut

Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1Southern Connecticut State University
New Haven Public
121$36,168
2University of Connecticut
Storrs Public
120$44,240
3Central Connecticut State University
New Britain Public
61Not reported
4Eastern Connecticut State University
Willimantic Public
57$41,870
5Goodwin University
East Hartford Private not-for-profit
33Not reported
6Western Connecticut State University
Danbury Public
27$27,784
7Wesleyan University
Middletown Private not-for-profit
25$39,764
8Yale University
New Haven Private not-for-profit
24$61,133
9University of Bridgeport
Bridgeport Private not-for-profit
23$43,743
10Albertus Magnus College
New Haven Private not-for-profit
22Not reported
Show the other 9 Connecticut colleges offering Liberal Arts and Sciences
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Connecticut State Community CollegeNew BritainPublic1,056
Charter Oak State College (Online)New BritainPublic101
University of HartfordWest HartfordPrivate not-for-profit79
Holy Apostles College and Seminary (Online)CromwellPrivate not-for-profit27
Sacred Heart UniversityFairfieldPrivate not-for-profit19
Fairfield UniversityFairfieldPrivate not-for-profit15
University of New HavenWest HavenPrivate not-for-profit14
Mitchell CollegeNew LondonPrivate not-for-profit8
Quinnipiac UniversityHamdenPrivate not-for-profit5

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Postsecondary Teachers, All Other (SOC 25-1199).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+1.8%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~13,500
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$78,490
typically Doctoral or professional degree

What Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Connecticut

Jobs in Connecticut
1,940
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$84,830
median $78,220
Best-paying metro
$99,240
New Haven, CT

Related careers

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Connecticut.

Which Connecticut colleges award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees?+

Southern Connecticut State University (121 graduates a year), University of Connecticut (120 graduates a year) and Central Connecticut State University (61 graduates a year) award the most Liberal Arts and Sciences degrees in Connecticut, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 19 Connecticut colleges offer Liberal Arts and Sciences.

What is the best college for Liberal Arts and Sciences in Connecticut?+

By graduate earnings, Yale University leads among bachelor's Liberal Arts and Sciences programs in Connecticut, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $61,133, College Scorecard. University of Connecticut and University of Bridgeport follow. By degrees awarded, Southern Connecticut State University is the largest, with 121 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Liberal Arts and Sciences program in Connecticut has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Yale University tops the list at $61,133. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Postsecondary Teachers, All Other earn in Connecticut?+

The average annual wage for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other in Connecticut is $84,830 (median $78,220), across about 1,940 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program?+

The Liberal Arts and Sciences program, formally known as Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, offers a broad educational foundation in various disciplines. This program is designed for students seeking a well-rounded…

What is the job outlook for Postsecondary Teachers, All Other?+

The national job outlook is about +1.8% growth with around 13,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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