Waterbury, Connecticut Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Waterbury, Connecticut: median public in-state tuition $16,327 (+196.2% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $56,346 (+3.6% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 37.7% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $12,000 (-9.6% vs U.S.) 14,499 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 6 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 14,499 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $16,327 (+196.2% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $56,346 (+3.6% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 37.7% (-50.3 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $15,318 (+53.7% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $12,000 (-9.6% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $18,927
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 38.8%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 55.6%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Waterbury serve students across Connecticut with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 6 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 14,499 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $16,327. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Waterbury, Connecticut and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Waterbury vs Connecticut & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury, Connecticut | $16,327 | $15,318 | $12,000 | 38.8% | 14,499 |
| Connecticut (state median) | $13,928 | $16,798 | $12,758 | 65.0% | 152,356 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Waterbury, Connecticut vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury, Connecticut | $56,346 | 37.7% | 55.6% | 6.7% | — | 70.1% | 0.53 |
| Connecticut (state median) | $64,209 | 28.2% | 83.0% | 3.2% | — | 79.5% | 0.31 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Connecticut (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury, Connecticut | $16,327 | $15,318 | $12,000 | 38.8% | 14,499 | $56,346 | 37.7% |
| New Britain | $8,506 | $16,336 | $14,966 | 57.6% | 44,216 | $61,386 | 21.8% |
| New Haven | $41,908 | $23,777 | $22,250 | 51.5% | 14,044 | $60,144 | 13.2% |
| Fairfield | $54,377 | $47,134 | $25,500 | 78.9% | 12,460 | $81,926 | 29.4% |
| Fairfield | $54,377 | $47,134 | $25,500 | 78.9% | 12,460 | $81,926 | 29.4% |
| Hamden | $34,908 | $30,612 | $19,175 | 75.7% | 6,933 | $83,759 | 32.4% |
| West Hartford | $48,176 | $27,989 | $27,000 | 59.1% | 5,386 | $60,366 | 19.2% |
| Hartford | $44,450 | $25,618 | $22,250 | 74.4% | 3,671 | $82,388 | 27.3% |
| New London | $40,490 | $33,218 | $23,500 | 82.0% | 3,422 | $57,058 | 33.6% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top 2 colleges in Waterbury, Connecticut by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 52.7%, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 24.9%, Post University
Post University
Top 2 colleges in Waterbury, Connecticut by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 57.6%, Post University
Post University
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 17.8%, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
Most selective college in Waterbury, Connecticut (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 86.7%, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
Top 2 colleges in Waterbury, Connecticut by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $84,969, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $63,383, Post University
Post University
Top 2 colleges in Waterbury, Connecticut by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $122,474, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $74,249, Post University
Post University
Top 2 colleges in Waterbury, Connecticut by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $63,322, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $31,401, Post University
Post University
Top 2 colleges in Waterbury, Connecticut by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $69,005, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $33,857, Post University
Post University
Top 2 colleges in Waterbury, Connecticut by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $73,997, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $38,696, Post University
Post University
Top 2 colleges in Waterbury, Connecticut by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $289,614, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $64,690, Post University
Post University
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Waterbury, Connecticut (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $10,875, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
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Rank 2, Net Price, $21,634, Post University
Post University
Top 2 colleges in Waterbury, Connecticut by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 77.8%, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 33.4%, Post University
Post University
In-state tuition: Waterbury, Connecticut vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Waterbury, Connecticut median in-state tuition is $16,327, +196.2% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Waterbury, Connecticut vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Waterbury, Connecticut is $12,000 (-9.6% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $18,927.
Median earnings (10 years out): Waterbury, Connecticut vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Waterbury, Connecticut center around $56,346 (+3.6% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Waterbury, Connecticut vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 37.7% at the median Waterbury, Connecticut campus (-50.3 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Waterbury, Connecticut median public in-state tuition is $16,327, about +196.2% vs the national median. Versus the New England region, tuition is +73.7%.
Median graduate debt is $12,000 (-9.6% below the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Waterbury, Connecticut are $56,346, about +3.6% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 37.7% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-50.3 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 55.6% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 6.7% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 70.1% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Post University (57.6%), University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus (17.8%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Waterbury, Connecticut is 38.8% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Waterbury?
This city profile covers 6 campuses in Waterbury, Connecticut with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Waterbury?
Median in-state tuition in Waterbury is $16,327 and median net price is $15,318. For Connecticut overall, medians are $13,928 and $16,798; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Waterbury?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Waterbury is $56,346 vs $64,209 for Connecticut and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Waterbury colleges?
Median completer debt in Waterbury is $12,000 vs $12,758 for Connecticut and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Waterbury?
Top campuses on this page include University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus (graduation) and University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Waterbury?
Among 6 campuses in Waterbury, Connecticut, 4 campuses with at least 25% Hispanic enrollment in College Scorecard demographics—a common Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) eligibility proxy; examples include Industrial Management Training Institute, University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus, and Belle Academy of Cosmetology LLC.
Sources & related
- Connecticut college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON