State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard

Cheapest Colleges in Connecticut

Name: Connecticut College Net Price Rankings
Creator: PlainCampus

Connecticut's median net price sits 26% above the national Scorecard median; even so, Branford Academy of Hair & Cosmetology is the lowest reporter here at $4,271 among 49 schools.

Compiled by PlainCampus , Independent campus-safety data publisher

$4,271
Cheapest net price: $21,634
Connecticut median: 49
Schools ranked

Branford Academy of Hair & Cosmetology has the lowest average net price in Connecticut among Scorecard reporters

According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Branford Academy of Hair & Cosmetology posts the lowest average net price in Connecticut at $4,271 among 49 ranked schools, with the state median 26% above the $17,124 national median. Net price is what students paid after grant aid, not sticker tuition, and can reflect a narrow enrollment mix at specialty schools.

Data source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard

Cheapest net price: $4,271
Connecticut median: $21,634
Schools ranked: 49
National median: $17,124

Data updated August 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage

The list in one line

Branford Academy of Hair & Cosmetology has the lowest average net price in Connecticut at $4,271/year, and the state's median net price is 26% above the $17,124 national median across 4,965 schools.

$4,271
cheapest ranked net price: $21,634
Connecticut median net price: 11 public / 38 private
schools in this ranking: $20,489
avg net price, <$30K income families

Average net price blends every income bracket; families under $30k average $20,489 here. Loans are excluded, open a school profile for the bracket table before treating one average as a personal cost.

Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Yale University, where in-state published tuition of $67,250 falls to an average net price of $23,777 after aid, a $43,473 gap, the widest sticker-to-net gap among ranked Connecticut schools.

Private campuses outnumber public ones here (38 vs 11). A low figure at a small religious or specialty school can reflect a narrow enrollment mix, check sector and enrollment beside the price.

The bar to make this top-25 list is $21,634. Here is where that cutoff sits among all 49 Scorecard-reporting Connecticut schools:

The bar to make Connecticut's top-25 cheapest list

Average net price after aid · 49 Scorecard-reporting schools

$21,634 more affordable than 49% of 49 Connecticut colleges

Show national distribution

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more Connecticut colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · 2022–23

Connecticut's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price

Branford Academy of Hair & CosmetologyBranford, CT · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $4,271
Net price (<$30K income): $4,271
Median debt: $6,333
Median earnings, 6yr: -
Enrollment: 51

Belle Academy of Cosmetology LLCWaterbury, CT · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $6,638
Net price (<$30K income): $6,638
Median debt: -
Median earnings, 6yr: -
Enrollment: 5

Holy Apostles College and SeminaryCromwell, CT · Private nonprofit

Avg net price: $10,117
Net price (<$30K income): $10,117
Median debt: $12,541
Median earnings, 6yr: -
Enrollment: 719

University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusWaterbury, CT · Public

Avg net price: $10,875
Net price (<$30K income): $5,604
Median debt: $21,500
Median earnings, 6yr: $63,322
Enrollment: 745

Oxford Academy of Hair Design IncSeymour, CT · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $11,408
Net price (<$30K income): $11,408
Median debt: $6,333
Median earnings, 6yr: -
Enrollment: 143

Connecticut State Community CollegeHartford, CT · Public

Avg net price: $11,513
Net price (<$30K income): $11,009
Median debt: $9,200
Median earnings, 6yr: $35,849
Enrollment: 36,315

Academy Di Capelli-School of CosmetologyWallingford, CT · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $12,607
Net price (<$30K income): $12,607
Median debt: $6,333
Median earnings, 6yr: $19,530
Enrollment: 402

University of Connecticut-Avery PointGroton, CT · Public

Avg net price: $13,807
Net price (<$30K income): $8,996
Median debt: $21,500
Median earnings, 6yr: $63,322
Enrollment: 477

TIGI Hairdressing Academy NewtownNewtown, CT · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $14,380
Net price (<$30K income): $11,314
Median debt: $9,833
Median earnings, 6yr: -
Enrollment: 53

New England Tractor Trailer Training School of ConnecticutSomers, CT · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $15,284
Net price (<$30K income): $14,783
Median debt: $6,333
Median earnings, 6yr: $46,838
Enrollment: 289

Dolce The AcademyWaterbury, CT · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $15,318
Net price (<$30K income): $15,318
Median debt: $9,833
Median earnings, 6yr: -
Enrollment: 44

Charter Oak State CollegeNew Britain, CT · Public

Avg net price: $15,815
Net price (<$30K income): -
Median debt: $18,683
Median earnings, 6yr: $53,779
Enrollment: 2,012

New England Tractor Trailer Training School of CT-BridgeportBridgeport, CT · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $16,191
Net price (<$30K income): $15,947
Median debt: $6,333
Median earnings, 6yr: $46,838
Enrollment: 428

University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusHartford, CT · Public

Avg net price: $16,403
Net price (<$30K income): $9,625
Median debt: $21,500
Median earnings, 6yr: $63,322
Enrollment: 1,544

TIGI Hairdressing Academy GuilfordGuilford, CT · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $16,406
Net price (<$30K income): $14,205
Median debt: $9,833
Median earnings, 6yr: -
Enrollment: 52

International Institute of CosmetologyWethersfield, CT · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $16,590
Net price (<$30K income): $14,467
Median debt: $9,833
Median earnings, 6yr: -
Enrollment: 197

University of Connecticut-StamfordStamford, CT · Public

Avg net price: $16,798
Net price (<$30K income): $11,632
Median debt: $21,500
Median earnings, 6yr: $63,322
Enrollment: 2,482

Central Connecticut State UniversityNew Britain, CT · Public

Avg net price: $16,857
Net price (<$30K income): $13,589
Median debt: $22,300
Median earnings, 6yr: $49,016
Enrollment: 9,997

Western Connecticut State UniversityDanbury, CT · Public

Avg net price: $17,604
Net price (<$30K income): $13,507
Median debt: $24,147
Median earnings, 6yr: $45,997
Enrollment: 4,169

Porter & Chester InstituteBridgeport, CT · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $18,348
Net price (<$30K income): $17,540
Median debt: $12,000
Median earnings, 6yr: $37,807
Enrollment: 1,373

American Institute-West HartfordWest Hartford, CT · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $19,316
Net price (<$30K income): $19,220
Median debt: $11,979
Median earnings, 6yr: $25,543
Enrollment: 402

Porter & Chester Institute of HamdenHamden, CT · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $20,549
Net price (<$30K income): $19,045
Median debt: $12,350
Median earnings, 6yr: $41,103
Enrollment: 402

Southern Connecticut State UniversityNew Haven, CT · Public

Avg net price: $20,857
Net price (<$30K income): $17,736
Median debt: $22,250
Median earnings, 6yr: $45,422
Enrollment: 9,377

Eastern Connecticut State UniversityWillimantic, CT · Public

Avg net price: $21,067
Net price (<$30K income): $17,654
Median debt: $24,250
Median earnings, 6yr: $47,289
Enrollment: 4,355

Post UniversityWaterbury, CT · Private for-profit

Avg net price: $21,634
Net price (<$30K income): $22,103
Median debt: $30,157
Median earnings, 6yr: $31,401
Enrollment: 16,178

#	College	Avg net price	Net price (<$30K income)	Median debt	Median earnings, 6yr	Enrollment
1	Branford Academy of Hair & CosmetologyBranford, CT · Private for-profit	$4,271	$4,271	$6,333	-	51
2	Belle Academy of Cosmetology LLCWaterbury, CT · Private for-profit	$6,638	$6,638	-	-	5
3	Holy Apostles College and SeminaryCromwell, CT · Private nonprofit	$10,117	$10,117	$12,541	-	719
4	University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusWaterbury, CT · Public	$10,875	$5,604	$21,500	$63,322	745
5	Oxford Academy of Hair Design IncSeymour, CT · Private for-profit	$11,408	$11,408	$6,333	-	143
6	Connecticut State Community CollegeHartford, CT · Public	$11,513	$11,009	$9,200	$35,849	36,315
7	Academy Di Capelli-School of CosmetologyWallingford, CT · Private for-profit	$12,607	$12,607	$6,333	$19,530	402
8	University of Connecticut-Avery PointGroton, CT · Public	$13,807	$8,996	$21,500	$63,322	477
9	TIGI Hairdressing Academy NewtownNewtown, CT · Private for-profit	$14,380	$11,314	$9,833	-	53
10	New England Tractor Trailer Training School of ConnecticutSomers, CT · Private for-profit	$15,284	$14,783	$6,333	$46,838	289
11	Dolce The AcademyWaterbury, CT · Private for-profit	$15,318	$15,318	$9,833	-	44
12	Charter Oak State CollegeNew Britain, CT · Public	$15,815	-	$18,683	$53,779	2,012
13	New England Tractor Trailer Training School of CT-BridgeportBridgeport, CT · Private for-profit	$16,191	$15,947	$6,333	$46,838	428
14	University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusHartford, CT · Public	$16,403	$9,625	$21,500	$63,322	1,544
15	TIGI Hairdressing Academy GuilfordGuilford, CT · Private for-profit	$16,406	$14,205	$9,833	-	52
16	International Institute of CosmetologyWethersfield, CT · Private for-profit	$16,590	$14,467	$9,833	-	197
17	University of Connecticut-StamfordStamford, CT · Public	$16,798	$11,632	$21,500	$63,322	2,482
18	Central Connecticut State UniversityNew Britain, CT · Public	$16,857	$13,589	$22,300	$49,016	9,997
19	Western Connecticut State UniversityDanbury, CT · Public	$17,604	$13,507	$24,147	$45,997	4,169
20	Porter & Chester InstituteBridgeport, CT · Private for-profit	$18,348	$17,540	$12,000	$37,807	1,373
21	American Institute-West HartfordWest Hartford, CT · Private for-profit	$19,316	$19,220	$11,979	$25,543	402
22	Porter & Chester Institute of HamdenHamden, CT · Private for-profit	$20,549	$19,045	$12,350	$41,103	402
23	Southern Connecticut State UniversityNew Haven, CT · Public	$20,857	$17,736	$22,250	$45,422	9,377
24	Eastern Connecticut State UniversityWillimantic, CT · Public	$21,067	$17,654	$24,250	$47,289	4,355
25	Post UniversityWaterbury, CT · Private for-profit	$21,634	$22,103	$30,157	$31,401	16,178

Showing the 25 cheapest of 49 Scorecard-reporting Connecticut schools. The remaining 24 are ranked in the same net-price order but omitted from this HTML table so the page stays crawlable.

Look up any institution's exact rank via My School Profile, or open its school page for income-bracket net price, debt, and earnings.

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What this means for you

Use Connecticut's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.

Branford Academy of Hair & Cosmetology reports the lowest average net price in Connecticut, but "average" blends every income bracket, check your bracket's figure before assuming it applies to you. View Branford Academy of
See your specific school's in-state cost rank and nearest-price peers. My School Profile
Compare campus safety alongside cost before deciding. Connecticut safety

Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.

Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. This page lists the 25 cheapest; the title count is the full Scorecard-reporting cohort for Connecticut. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.

Connecticut's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price

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