Head-to-head comparison
Connecticut State Community College vs American Institute-West Hartford: which has better ROI?
Option A New Britain, CT
Connecticut State Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,513
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,344
- Payback
- No payback
Option B West Hartford, CT
American Institute-West Hartford
- Net price / year
- $19,316
- Earnings, 10 years
- $28,710
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Connecticut State Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,344 against a $23,026 total, vs $28,710 at American Institute-West Hartford. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Connecticut State Community College | American Institute-West Hartford |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,513 | $19,316 |
| Total net cost | $23,026 | $77,264 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,344 | $28,710 |
| Median debt | $9,200 | $11,979 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$163,346 | -$470,264 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Connecticut State Community College or American Institute-West Hartford?
Connecticut State Community College, at $11,513 a year after aid versus $19,316 — a gap of $7,803 a year, or $54,238 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 State Community College or American Institute-West Hartford graduates earn more?
Connecticut State Community College graduates report a median $41,344 ten years after entry, $12,634 more than the $28,710 at American Institute-West Hartford. 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 State Community College or American Institute-West Hartford?
Connecticut State Community College: its completers carry a median $9,200 in federal loans versus $11,979 at American Institute-West Hartford, a difference of $2,779. 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?
56% of students finish at American Institute-West Hartford, against 24% at Connecticut State Community 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.