Head-to-head comparison
Connecticut State Community College vs Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden: 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 Hamden, CT
Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden
- Net price / year
- $20,549
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,914
- 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 $42,914 at Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Connecticut State Community College | Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,513 | $20,549 |
| Total net cost | $23,026 | $82,196 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,344 | $42,914 |
| Median debt | $9,200 | $12,350 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$163,346 | -$191,116 |
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 Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden?
Connecticut State Community College, at $11,513 a year after aid versus $20,549 — a gap of $9,036 a year, or $59,170 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 Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden graduates earn more?
Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden graduates report a median $42,914 ten years after entry, $1,570 more than the $41,344 at Connecticut State Community 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 State Community College or Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden?
Connecticut State Community College: its completers carry a median $9,200 in federal loans versus $12,350 at Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden, a difference of $3,150. 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?
32% of students finish at Porter & Chester Institute of Hamden, 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.