Connecticut College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
New London, Connecticut · Private nonprofit · Selective · CDS 2025-2026
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2025-2026
- Test-optional
- Early Decision
- Early Decision II
- 7,338
- Applicants
- 2,875
- Admitted39%
- 459
- Enrolled
- 16%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Selective39% admittedRanked #47 (tie) in National Liberal Arts Colleges; Computer Science #396 (tie), Economics #196 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set published by Connecticut College (see the source), read on 2026-09-20. The admission-factor grid was re-read from that file to confirm each weighting.
Is Connecticut College a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places Connecticut College against it in about a minute. No account needed.
Connecticut College is a private nonprofit university in New London, Connecticut that admits about 39% of applicants, making it a selective school. The average family pays about $36,175 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Economics, Psychology, General and Political Science and Government, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 82% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 5.2 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Connecticut College is a private institution located in New London, Connecticut with a selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Connecticut College admits between a quarter and half of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 39%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1280 and an ACT composite around 32. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $36,175 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Connecticut College?
Admitted students at Connecticut College typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses.
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What does Connecticut College weight in admissions?
Connecticut College reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2025-2026). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Academic GPA
- Character/personal qualities
Important
7- Application essay
- Recommendations
- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Considered
8- Class rank
- Standardized test scores
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores Connecticut College typically admits
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 660–740, with an EBRW midpoint near 714. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 30–33. Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1160 |
| 50th percentile | 1280 |
| 75th percentile | 1370 |
| % submitting SAT | 52% |
| 25th percentile | 26 |
| 50th percentile | 29 |
| 75th percentile | 32 |
| % submitting ACT | 14% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Test-optional with a 'no harm' option letting the committee disregard submitted scores that do not help.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on Connecticut College's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
How much does Connecticut College actually cost?
Published tuition is $67,242 for in-state students and $67,242 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $18,558 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $36,175 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 14% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $36,175 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 100% |
| Average need-based grant | $52,660 |
| Average merit award, no financial need164 first-year students received one | $36,673 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 44% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $36,950 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA and CSS Profile (incl. noncustodial parent)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | $0 |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Connecticut College
| Regular deadline | 1/15 |
| Notification date | late-March (RD) |
| Reply deadline | 5/1 |
| Offers Early Decision | Yes |
| ED deadline | November 15 |
| Offers Early Decision II | Yes |
| ED II deadline | January 15 |
| ED acceptance rate (all rounds) | 41% |
Will my child graduate from Connecticut College?
These predict outcomes at Connecticut College better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Connecticut College
The most popular undergraduate programs at Connecticut College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Economics, Psychology, General and Political Science and Government. Across all programs, Connecticut College confers roughly 289 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Economics program report a median income of about $109,560 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Economics | 72 | $109,560 |
| Psychology, General | 45 | $66,708 |
| Political Science and Government | 38 | $104,506 |
| Biology, General | 30 | $56,157 |
| Computer Science | 27 | n/a |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | 26 | n/a |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | 26 | n/a |
| English Language and Literature, General | 25 | $57,334 |
Is Connecticut College safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Connecticut College disclosed 10 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 5.2 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 10 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Connecticut College?
About 99% of undergraduates at Connecticut College live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Connecticut parents ask about
Next steps for Connecticut College
Common questions parents ask about Connecticut College
What GPA do I need for Connecticut College?
Admitted students at Connecticut College typically present unweighted GPAs in the 3.6–3.9 range with several honors or AP courses.
What SAT or ACT score does Connecticut College typically admit?
The middle-50 SAT Math range is 660–740, with an EBRW midpoint near 714. The middle-50 ACT composite range is 30–33.
How much does Connecticut College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Connecticut College after grants and scholarships is $36,175 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $67,242. Budget against the net figure.
Is Connecticut College realistic for my child?
Connecticut College admits 39% of applicants, so 660–740 SAT Math is target range and below 660 is a reach. Then check the $36,175 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Connecticut College?
Connecticut College accepts about 39% of applicants out of roughly 7,338 who apply each year. That makes it a selective school.
Is Connecticut College test-optional?
Yes. Connecticut College is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Connecticut College?
About 82% of students at Connecticut College graduate within six years, and 74% finish in four years. 91% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
Does applying Early Decision improve my chances at Connecticut College?
Connecticut College's Early Decision acceptance rate is about 41%, compared with its overall rate of 39%. Applying ED can meaningfully improve admission odds, but it is a binding commitment to enroll if accepted.
What does Connecticut College look for in applicants?
Connecticut College rates course rigor, GPA and character and personal qualities as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Connecticut College a public or private school, and where is it located?
Connecticut College is a private nonprofit institution located in New London, Connecticut.
What are the most popular majors at Connecticut College?
The largest undergraduate majors at Connecticut College by annual graduates are Economics, Psychology, General and Political Science and Government. The school awards about 289 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Connecticut College safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Connecticut College reported 10 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 5.2 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Connecticut College?
At Connecticut College, 99% of undergraduates live on campus, 0% of men are in fraternities, 0% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2025-2026 Common Data Set submitted by Connecticut College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers