Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Connecticut
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Hartford, Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Connecticut by graduate earnings. University of Hartford leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $106,348, College Scorecard. Sacred Heart University, University of Connecticut and Quinnipiac University award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Connecticut: 434, 383 and 342 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 Connecticut colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 3,938 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 10 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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Hartford West Hartford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $106,348 | 81 | 54% | $28,311 | $26,062 |
| 2 | Fairfield University Fairfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $91,418 | 302 | 84% | $36,845 | $27,000 |
| 3 | Sacred Heart University Fairfield Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $90,830 | 434 | 73% | $42,705 | $27,000 |
| 4 | University of Bridgeport Bridgeport Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $89,752 | 125 | 41% | $25,149 | $31,000 |
| 5 | Southern Connecticut State University New Haven Public · Bachelor's degree | $87,795 | 177 | 50% | — | $25,837 |
| 6 | Western Connecticut State University Danbury Public · Bachelor's degree | $86,600 | 99 | 52% | — | $26,000 |
| 7 | University of Saint Joseph West Hartford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $86,555 | 124 | 64% | $25,841 | $30,990 |
| 8 | University of Connecticut Storrs Public · Bachelor's degree | $84,969 | 383 | 83% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | Quinnipiac University Hamden Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $84,856 | 342 | 76% | $36,137 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Central Connecticut State University New Britain Public · Bachelor's degree | $83,012 | 99 | 48% | — | $26,236 |
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.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goodwin University East Hartford Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $79,227 | 276 | 58% | $30,133 | $54,370 |
| 2 | Connecticut State Community College New Britain Public · Associate degree | $76,364 | 505 | 24% | — | $17,876 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing 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.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacred Heart University Fairfield Private not-for-profit | 434 | $90,830 |
| 2 | University of Connecticut Storrs Public | 383 | $84,969 |
| 3 | Quinnipiac University Hamden Private not-for-profit | 342 | $84,856 |
| 4 | Fairfield University Fairfield Private not-for-profit | 302 | $91,418 |
| 5 | Yale University New Haven Private not-for-profit | 212 | Not reported |
| 6 | Southern Connecticut State University New Haven Public | 177 | $87,795 |
| 7 | University of Bridgeport Bridgeport Private not-for-profit | 125 | $89,752 |
| 8 | University of Saint Joseph West Hartford Private not-for-profit | 124 | $86,555 |
| 9 | Central Connecticut State University New Britain Public | 99 | $83,012 |
| 10 | Western Connecticut State University Danbury Public | 99 | $86,600 |
ShowHide the other 5 Connecticut colleges offering Registered Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post University (Online) | Waterbury | Private for-profit | 753 |
| Connecticut State Community College | New Britain | Public | 505 |
| Goodwin University | East Hartford | Private not-for-profit | 276 |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford | Private not-for-profit | 81 |
| Charter Oak State College (Online) | New Britain | Public | 26 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Connecticut
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Connecticut.
Which Connecticut colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Sacred Heart University (434 graduates a year), University of Connecticut (383 graduates a year) and Quinnipiac University (342 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Connecticut, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 Connecticut colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Connecticut?+
By graduate earnings, University of Hartford leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Connecticut, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $106,348, College Scorecard. Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University follow. By degrees awarded, Sacred Heart University is the largest, with 434 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Connecticut has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Hartford tops the list at $106,348. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Connecticut?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Connecticut is $105,250 (median $102,740), across about 40,110 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's 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.
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