Here's a brief overview of online colleges in Connecticut:
To see more information on online colleges, like our rankings of the best online colleges in Connecticut, keep reading. After our ranking section, keep scrolling to see descriptions of state-specific scholarships as well as loans that are available to qualified applicants through the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority (CHESLA).
Here at OnlineColleges.com, we have created multiple rankings that show the best online schools in Connecticut. We used carefully selected criteria to select the schools featured in our rankings, and every school we included is accredited by a body such as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Check out our "What is College Accreditation?" page for more details on why accreditation is important, or the Connecticut State Department of Education for further details on Connecticut accreditation.
Our rankings were compiled to help students select the ideal online college for them. Students who browse our rankings are able to see and compare data details such as the number of online programs offered, average in-state tuition costs, and available credit offerings at each school. To learn why we believe these factors are essential for students who wish to enroll in an online degree program, visit the "What Makes a Good Online College?" section of our "About Us" page.
.png)
Distance learners have many different options for online study at colleges and universities in Connecticut, so choosing one to enroll in can be difficult. Use our ranking of the 10 best online colleges in Connecticut to help make your decision! We compiled this list using data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, analyzed through our proprietary methodology. You can read more about our methodology at the bottom of this article; on the other hand, you can read more about our top 10 online colleges in Connecticut just after this sentence.
What is HACS like?
Founded in 1956 as a 40-acre property in Cromwell, Holy Apostles College and Seminary is a Roman Catholic seminary. While students can earn degrees on the school's beautiful campus, which overlooks the Connecticut River, they can also enjoy the convenience of its online campus.
HACS has jumped up six spots from last year's list of the best online colleges in Connecticut, going from No.7 to No.1.
What online programs are at HACS?
Undergraduate students can earn a bachelor's degree in philosophy, theology, or sacred art through HACS. Meanwhile, graduate students may be interested in the school's M.A. programs in church history, sacred scripture or Thomistic studies.
Online courses at HACS are taught through the Populi online learning platform, which may be a selling point for students who have trouble working with the more prevalent Blackboard or Canvas learning systems.
What online resources does HACS offer?
The Online Writing Lab (OWL) is designed for students who would like to meet with a peer tutor and have their academic papers edited through Skype. HACS also offers career advising to students who are interested in pursuing Catholic job opportunities after graduation. Online audio books on a variety of subjects are available as well.
What is AMC like?
Albert Magnus College has climbed up a few spots from its ranking on last year's list of the best online universities in Connecticut, from No.5 up to No.2 this year. Known as a Catholic private arts college, AMC offers programs on its suburban campus in New Haven and online. Since 1985, the school has been creating accelerated online courses for working adults who hope to earn their degrees quickly and efficiently.
What online programs are at AMC?
The online programs at AMC involve accelerated eight-week courses that allow students to complete 30 credits in a single year. Students can earn an online MBA with a specialization such as accounting, general management, leadership, human resources or project management. A B.S. in criminal justice and a B.A. in sociology are available as well.
What online resources does AMC offer?
Students can enjoy access to internships and various experiential learning opportunities. They can also work with program directors, program chairs and academic advisors to plan their course of study and receive answers to questions they may have. Research guides and citation tutorials are available from the Rosary Hall Library as well.
What is SHU like?
SHU was founded in 1963 by a Bridgeport bishop named Reverend Walter W. Curtis. As of August 2018, the university was the second-largest Catholic university in New England. It offers a variety of degree programs on its main 300-acre campus in Fairfield, as well as on its satellite campuses and online.
What online programs are at SHU?
Students at SHU may study nursing online at various levels, as the school offers RN-BSN, RN-BSN-MSN, MSN and DNP programs. A non-credit certificate program in ESL is also available to help non-native speakers learn English as a second language. Online programs are at SHU are accessed through the Blackboard learning platform.
What online resources does SHU offer?
The Center for Career and Professional Development is available to online students who would like assistance finding internships, guidance with resume writing and/or one-on-one professional development counseling. Students can also enjoy access to research guides and library tutorials or ask a librarian for help via live chat.
What is PU like?
Founded in 1890 as Post College, online degrees at this university initially became available in 1996 and have continued to evolve over time.
What online programs are at PU?
At PU, students can earn a variety of business-related degrees online, including business administration, finance and human resource management. Graduate certificate programs in alcohol and drug counseling, leadership, and project management are available as well.
Online courses at Post are asynchronous, offered in accelerated eight-week formats six times a year.
What online resources does PU offer?
Through PU's Career Services Office, students can participate in mock interviews online, receive help with their resume and access a plethora of online career development tools. In addition, PU created the Online Student Lounge, which is a Facebook group that gives online students additional avenues to meet their classmates and connect with online program staff.
What is USJ like?
USJ was founded 1932 by the Sisters of Mercy of Connecticut and offers undergraduate and graduate programs on-campus in West Hartford and online. The university has climbed up one spot from its position on last year's list of the best online universities in Connecticut.
What online programs are at USJ?
Online students can take an RN-to-BSN program, pursue an M.S. in biochemistry, biology or chemistry, or enter the upper-division DNP program at USJ. Furthermore, online certificate programs in health coaching, emerging infection diseases, and environmental science present additional study options for prospective students.
The online courses at USJ are delivered via the Blackboard learning platform.
What online resources does USJ offer?
The Center for Student Research and Creative Activity can help online students find venues to present their research and creative work. It also offers student research grants and connects students with mentors.
In addition, USJ offers a Interdisciplinary Writing & Reasoning Program, which allows students to track their writing progress and their competency in writing before they graduate.
What is UConn like?
UConn began over 130 years ago as a small agricultural school. It has evolved over time to offer undergraduate and graduate programs both on-campus in Storrs and online via its eCampus.
It is important to note that although anyone can earn a degree online at UConn, there are certain online courses that require Connecticut residency.
What online programs are at UConn?
Online programs at UConn are taught through HuskyCT, a learning management system powered by Blackboard. UConn offers three online graduate-level options for students interested in survey research:
A post-baccalaureate certificate program in occupational safety and health, as well as a hybrid graduate certificate in human resource management, are also available.
What online resources does UConn offer?
The Center for Career Development offers a number of articles on career development, access to the Handshake job and internship website, and online career coaching and resume critique services. Students can also enjoy online tutoring through the Quantitative Learning Center and academic advising via GoogleApps@UConn.
What is UB like?
The University of Bridgeport has matured a great deal since its founding in 1972 as a junior college. In 1997, the school launched its first online program: an online M.S. in human nutrition.
OnlineColleges.com is proud to note that UB has climbed in rankings from its spot on last year's list of the best online colleges in Connecticut, going from No.10 up to No.7.
What online programs are at UB?
The online B.S. in dental hygiene program at UB is designed for licensed dental hygienists who would like to further their education. UB also offers an accelerated online MBA program that can be completed in one year, alongside a concentration such as management, human resources, or analytics intelligence.
Online courses at this university are eight or 16 weeks long and taught via the Canvas online learning platform.
What online resources does UB offer?
Student Advising and Support is designed to provide personalized support to online students from the moment they are accepted up to their graduation date. In addition, online students can access books, journal articles, and other resources through the UB Wahlstrom Library website at no additional cost.
What is UNH like?
Founded on the Yale campus in 1920, UNH is situated on the coast of southern New England. It boasts a vibrant community both on-campus and online.
What online programs are at UNH?
This university offers online courses in accelerated terms that last approximately 6.5 to 7 weeks. Online courses at UNH are mostly taught in an asynchronous format.
UNH offers a unique 10-course online master's degree program in investigations that focuses on teaching students the skills they need in order to become an investigator. An online B.S. in homeland security and emergency management and an online M.S. in environmental engineering are available as well.
What online resources does UNH offer?
The Center for Learning Resources offers tutors who specialize in a variety of subjects and are available more than 60 hours a week for their students. Students can also access UNH's subscription databases online and attend library workshops through the Marvin K. Peterson Library.
What is ECSU like?
When it made its debut in 1889, ECSU focused on training teachers. The school has expanded this focus over time, coming to offer education in a variety of subjects both on campus in Willimantic and online through EasternOnline.
What online programs are at ECSU?
The online programs at ECSU are designed to help students who have completed at least 60 college credits to finish earning a degree. ECSU also offers a number of individual online courses each semester, which are taught through the WebCT Vista learning platform. Courses are taught in an acronymous format and often involve the use of chat rooms and online discussion boards.
What online resources does ECSU offer?
Students can schedule a virtual appointment at the ECSU Writing Center and receive tutoring or support with various writing projects. ECSU also offers a Mathematics Achievement Center to assist students with math courses such as algebra essentials, calculus, and geometry. Career resources such as guides to resumes, cover letters and LinkedIn profiles and open internship postings are available as well.
What is WCSU like?
WCSU has a 34-acre main campus in downtown Danbury that is called Midtown and a 364-acre campus about three miles from its main campus that is known as Westside. The school also offers online learning programs that are specifically designed for busy or working students.
What online programs are at WCSU?
WCSU offers a M.S. in applied behavior analysis that can be completed entirely online in 30 credit hours. Upon graduation from this program, students should be eligible to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) exam. A online Ed.D. in nursing education program, which is taught in a cohort format and addresses the shortage of nurses in the state, can be taken by online graduate students as well.
What online resources does WCSU offer?
Online students at WCSU can receive assistance in subjects such as biology, chemistry, math and psychology via online tutoring through the Tutoring Resource Center. They can also use WestSearch — a searchable online feature on Western Connecticut State Libraries' website — to find books, media, and articles.
The following list presents 10 schools in Connecticut that offer online degrees at notably low tuition costs. Tuition figures are sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and reflect in-state tuition (when in-state tuition is available) for all students, including online students.
Despite being small in geographic territory, Connecticut had a fairly large number of colleges and universities that offer bachelor's or higher degree programs. These are some of the most-affordable four-year colleges and universities in Connecticut.
Connecticut offers students state-based loans through the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority, otherwise known as CHESLA. Of course, you should always take advantage of your scholarship and grant options before applying for a loan, but Connecticut students who do not qualify for need-based loans may find that the state offers a strong program.
For more details on student loans and how to get them, explore the Ultimate Guide to Student Loans.
Connecticut colleges and universities draw resident and non-resident students alike. For instance, enrollment growth in recent years at the University of Connecticut has been fueled largely by out-of-state students, according to an analysis by The Connecticut Mirror.
Non-resident students might find the degree programs at UConn and other state institutions appealing, but they may be less than thrilled with the out-of-state tuition rates. Fortunately, you have a couple options to reduce these costs.
If you're planning to relocate to the state, you can be considered a resident in as little as six months if you maintain a full-time job. Otherwise, you may be eligible for reduced tuition through the Tuition Break program. That's open to those who live in one of six participating New England states and don't have access to their chosen degree program in their home state. Some schools may also offer special tuition rates to out-of-state students from border states.
What's more, you may be eligible for scholarships or grants that can help offset the cost of non-resident tuition. To learn more about the initiatives and programs available to you, talk to your school's admissions and financial aid offices.
Additional information for out-of-state students can be found at the following links:
The data providing the details on these featured cities is sourced from the 2015 American Community Survey (census.gov).
Fun Facts about Bridgeport
As you might expect for a town that was founded in 1836, there are several historical sites in Bridgeport worth visiting, including the Barnum Museum, the Black Rock Historic District and the Berkshire No. 7, an old ship docked in Bridgeport Harbor. The Beardsley Zoo and the Discovery Museum and Planetarium are also popular attractions.
| Best Careers | Minimum Education | Average Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Managers | Bachelor's degree | $203,430 | 6,660 |
| Marketing Managers | Bachelor's degree | $181,720 | 2,600 |
| Personal Financial Advisors | Bachelor's degree | $136,050 | 2,830 |
| Sales Managers | Bachelor's degree | $165,720 | 2,180 |
| Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents | Bachelor's degree | $148,960 | 3,640 |
*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.
Fun Facts about New Haven
Many visitors to New Haven make sure to take in the campus of Yale University and visit the Yale Bookstore. But there are also a great number of other attractions, including the white-sand beaches of West Haven along gentle Long Island Sound and the hiking trails of Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden.
| Best Careers | Minimum Education | Average Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | Doctoral or professional degree | $132,420 | N/A |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | Bachelor's degree | $117,630 | 1,430 |
| Physician Assistants | Master's degree | $130,060 | 490 |
| Financial Managers | Bachelor's degree | $135,410 | 1,530 |
| Physical Therapists | Doctoral or professional degree | $97,500 | 810 |
*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.
Fun Facts about Hartford
Hartford, like many Connecticut cities, is steeped in history. A great place to learn that history is the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, which takes visitors back to the 18th and 19th centuries. Mark Twain's former home is also open to the public, and Goodspeed Opera House in nearby East Haddam is still the staging area for great performances in a Victorian setting.
| Best Careers | Minimum Education | Average Salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Managers | Bachelor's degree | $151,430 | 7,470 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | Bachelor's degree | $143,460 | 4,360 |
| Aerospace Engineers | Bachelor's degree | N/A | 1,080 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | Bachelor's degree | $132,700 | 1,750 |
| Marketing Managers | Bachelor's degree | $142,430 | 1,790 |
*Career rankings determined by annual mean wage, employment, projected growth and location quotient. Data sourced from the BLS, 2019 dataset.