Western Connecticut State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Danbury, Connecticut. It enrolls 3,511 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes35
Value71
Affordability60
Selectivity31
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 87%, Western Connecticut State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
87%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1040 – 1170
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Western Connecticut State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
5.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Western Connecticut State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,604 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,604
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
49%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$13,401
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$16,901
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,659
Room & Board (off-campus)
$9,282
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,438
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,232
Total Cost of Attendance
$24,877
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$13,507
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,716
$48,001 – $75,000
$16,697
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,737
Over $110,000
$21,318
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,00010%percentile
$6,80825%percentile
$24,147Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$34,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,750
↓ $5,397
No Pell $14,050
↓ $10,097
Dependent students $16,407
↓ $7,740
Independent students $19,750
↓ $4,397
Female students $17,490
↓ $6,657
Male students $16,554
↓ $7,593
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, less than completers ($24,147), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
51% of full-time students who enrolled at Western Connecticut State University graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
51%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
72%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Western Connecticut State University earn a median of $59,115 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$59,115
Earning > $25K
77%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$45,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$56,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$48,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$50,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,600, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
15.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Western Connecticut State University is home to 3,511 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 38% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
3,511
Part-Time
9%
First-Generation
38%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 47.4%1,663
Hispanic 29.7%1,043
Black 10.9%383
Other 6.3%222
Asian 4.3%150
International 0.6%21
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Western Connecticut State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityDanbury, Connecticut
Housing
Mostly residential1,590 beds on campus
Adult Learners
12%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Western Connecticut State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
50 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Western Connecticut State University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$19,993
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$25M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$98,118
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
186 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
100
54%
$112,079
Associate Professors
55
30%
$87,953
Assistant Professors
29
16%
$71,249
Instructors
2
1%
$69,167
Pros & Cons of Western Connecticut State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Western Connecticut State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Western Connecticut State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Western Connecticut State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Western Connecticut State University.
Is Western Connecticut State University hard to get into?
Western Connecticut State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 87%.
What is the acceptance rate at Western Connecticut State University?
Western Connecticut State University has an acceptance rate of 87%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Western Connecticut State University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Western Connecticut State University scored between 1040 and 1170 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Western Connecticut State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Western Connecticut State University is $17,604 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Western Connecticut State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $59,115 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,604 per year. That's roughly 3.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Western Connecticut State University known for?
Western Connecticut State University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Counseling Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Western Connecticut State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Western Connecticut State University are $59,115, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Western Connecticut State University accredited?
Yes. Western Connecticut State University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Western Connecticut State University?
Western Connecticut State University enrolls 3,511 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Western Connecticut State University?
Western Connecticut State University graduates 51% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Western Connecticut State University a public or private college?
Western Connecticut State University is a Public institution.
Where is Western Connecticut State University located?
Western Connecticut State University is located in Danbury, Connecticut.
What programs does Western Connecticut State University offer?
Western Connecticut State University offers 50 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Counseling Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Western Connecticut State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Western Connecticut State University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Connecticut
Other colleges in Connecticut share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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