Head-to-head comparison
Wesleyan University vs Connecticut College: which has better ROI?
Option A Middletown, CT
Wesleyan University
- Net price / year
- $30,177
- Earnings, 10 years
- $73,897
- Payback
- 4.7 yrs
Option B New London, CT
Connecticut College
- Net price / year
- $36,175
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,001
- Payback
- 5.4 yrs
Wesleyan University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $120,708 in 4.7 years versus 5.4 years at Connecticut College, on median earnings of $73,897 vs $75,001 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Wesleyan University | Connecticut College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $30,177 | $36,175 |
| Total net cost | $120,708 | $144,700 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $73,897 | $75,001 |
| Median debt | $17,000 | $23,500 |
| Payback | 4.7 yrs | 5.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $390,032 | $388,120 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Wesleyan University or Connecticut College?
Wesleyan University, at $30,177 a year after aid versus $36,175 — a gap of $5,998 a year, or $23,992 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 Wesleyan University or Connecticut College graduates earn more?
Connecticut College graduates report a median $75,001 ten years after entry, $1,104 more than the $73,897 at Wesleyan University. 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, Wesleyan University or Connecticut College?
Wesleyan University: its completers carry a median $17,000 in federal loans versus $23,500 at Connecticut College, a difference of $6,500. 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?
93% of students finish at Wesleyan University, against 82% at Connecticut 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.