Head-to-head comparison
Connecticut College vs Charter Oak State College: which has better ROI?
Option A New London, CT
Connecticut College
- Net price / year
- $36,175
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,001
- Payback
- 5.4 yrs
Option B New Britain, CT
Charter Oak State College
- Net price / year
- $15,815
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,209
- Payback
- 4 yrs
Charter Oak State College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $63,260 in 4 years versus 5.4 years at Connecticut College, on median earnings of $64,209 vs $75,001 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Connecticut College | Charter Oak State College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,175 | $15,815 |
| Total net cost | $144,700 | $63,260 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,001 | $64,209 |
| Median debt | $23,500 | $18,683 |
| Payback | 5.4 yrs | 4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $388,120 | $253,720 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Connecticut College or Charter Oak State College?
Charter Oak State College, at $15,815 a year after aid versus $36,175 — a gap of $20,360 a year, or $81,440 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Connecticut College or Charter Oak State College graduates earn more?
Connecticut College graduates report a median $75,001 ten years after entry, $10,792 more than the $64,209 at Charter Oak State College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Connecticut College or Charter Oak State College?
Charter Oak State College: its completers carry a median $18,683 in federal loans versus $23,500 at Connecticut College, a difference of $4,817. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
82% of students finish at Connecticut College, against 67% at Charter Oak State College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.