The Best Online Colleges in Connecticut

The Constitution State takes its education seriously, with nearly 40% of the population holding at least a bachelor's degree — well above the national average.

Online education in Connecticut offers opportunities for learners of all ages. Leading institutions like Yale University and the University of Connecticut (UCONN) meet the needs of students through both free and for-credit online options.

The best colleges in Connecticut offer online coursework and programs that align with the state's expanding industries, such as manufacturing, information technology, and green energy production. For example, BLS reports that operations research analysts and software applications developers earn a median annual salary of $98,070 and $120,180, higher than the average annual salary in Connecticut. Both roles only require at least a bachelor's degree.

The Public Policy Institute at George Washington reported that, 70% of jobs in Connecticut would require postsecondary education, with 26% requiring a bachelor's degree. This indicates that the state will have a strong need for individuals who have bachelor's degrees.

Featured Online Schools

With a bachelor's degree in Connecticut, students are prepared to enter the labor force or advance within their current professions.

The Best Online Colleges in Connecticut

Online Colleges in Connecticut Ranking Guidelines

We ranked these degree programs based on quality, curricula, school awards, rankings, and reputation.

Our Methodology

Here at TheBestSchools.org, we take the trust and welfare of our readers very seriously. When making our school and program rankings, our top priority is ensuring that our readers get accurate, unbiased information that can help them make informed decisions about online education. That's why we've developed a rigorous ranking methodology that keeps the needs of our readers front and center.

Our proprietary, multi-criteria ranking algorithm analyzes key data indicators — as collected by the federal government — for each school or program. What data we use depends on the focus of each specific ranking, but in all cases, our ranking methodology is impartial: Schools cannot buy better rankings at TBS.

While specific criteria under consideration can vary by ranking, there are a few data points that we value most highly. They are affordability, academic quality, and online enrollment. Below, we break down our algorithm to help you understand what you're getting when you use one of our rankings.

• Academics
• Affordability
• Online Enrollment

Data Sources

The data used in TBS rankings comes primarily from the federal government, and much of it is provided by the schools themselves. We aggregate and analyze this data to build our rankings.

The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is our primary source. Its data comes from annual surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Every college, university, or technical school with access to federal financial aid must participate in these surveys, which include questions about enrollment, graduation rates, finances, and faculty qualifications. This is publicly available data, which you can access yourself through the College Navigator.

Additionally, because we value a personal touch and the professional experience of our staff and Academic Advisory Board, we vet all results and adjust rankings as necessary based on our collected knowledge of schools and degree programs. Depending on the ranking, we may obtain additional input from AcademicInfluence.com, subject matter experts, prior TBS ranking lists, or other sources we deem relevant to a particular ranking.

Breakdown of Our Rankings Methodology

About Our Ranking Factors

Here at TBS, we value what you value: quality education, affordability, and the accessibility of online education. These factors guide all of our program rankings.

Each of these factors are further broken down into weighted subfactors. For example, retention rates are weighted more heavily than availability of program options because they are a better indicator of student success.

We chose the following factors for our rankings because of their influence on learning experiences and graduate outcomes. However, students should always balance our rankings against their personal priorities. For instance, a learner who needs a fully online program may prioritize online flexibility more than our rankings do. Our rankings are designed to help you make a decision — not to make a decision for you.

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Academics - 75%

Affordability - 15%

Online Enrollment - 10%

In all our school rankings and recommendations, we work for objectivity and balance. We carefully research and compile each ranking list, and as stated in our advertising disclosure, we do NOT permit financial incentives to influence rankings. Our articles never promote or disregard a school for financial gain.

If you have questions about our ranking methodology, please feel free to connect with our staff through contact page.

We thank you for your readership and trust.

Employment in Connecticut

Connecticut is a national leader in green energy, bioscience, and technological innovation. The financial services industry in Connecticut ranks among the top in the world, and the state is also home to large numbers of insurance professionals.

The cost of living in Connecticut exceeds the national average, but health and housing expenses are comparable to other states. The median home cost in Connecticut is also close to the national average.

In September 2023, Connecticut's unemployment rate was 3.5% — 0.5% lower than this same period last year. Construction jobs, information service positions, and trade and transportation roles have experienced employment growth.

The Connecticut Department of Labor projects a 5.9% growth in employment between 2016 and 2026. It lists top industries aa construction, healthcare and social assistance, and transportation and warehousing.

The data below covers the highest paying careers that employ more than 1,000 individuals in Connecticut and do not require a first-professional degree, like an MD or JD. Salary information is specific to Connecticut, while job growth data is for the United States as a whole.

The following data reflects the highest paying roles employing more than 5,000 professionals in Connecticut that do not require a first-professional degree, like an MD or JD. Salary figures apply specifically to Connecticut, while job growth data is for the United States as a whole.

Online Associate and Graduate Degrees

Colleges and universities in Connecticut offer online associate and graduate degrees for students alongside online bachelor's programs. Many schools have shifted to online-only education due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has expanded online offerings at all levels.

Online programs often mirror their on-campus counterparts, although delivery format can vary. Programs with asynchronous coursework may provide more flexible options for students, while sequential and cohort-based curricula offer a more structured educational setting and more opportunities to connect with others.

Online graduate degrees at colleges and universities can span many disciplines. For example, at UCONN, business administration students can pursue an online master's of science in accounting or in human resource management.

Similarly, Central Connecticut State University offers an online strategic communication degree, which is ideal for students who study interpersonal and organizational communication. Education professionals can earn a graduate degree in educational technology from UCONN online or an online master of education degree from Goodwin University.

Frequently Asked Questions