Campus of Western Connecticut State University

    Western Connecticut State University

    Danbury, CT, United States

    Western Connecticut State University's acceptance rate is 87% (CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, 4,688 applicants). It is a public university in Danbury, CT, with 3,511 students. The average net price after grants is $16,754 a year. The six-year graduation rate is 51.2%, and median earnings ten years after entry are $62,010.

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    • Public
    • Master's university
    • NCAA Division III

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    Photo: ajay_suresh, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Western Connecticut State University acceptance rate

    Acceptance rate: 87% (fall admissions, CollegesRef 2026–27 edition). 3,978 of 4,688 applicants were admitted. Middle 50% test scores: SAT Reading & Writing 510–580, SAT Math 530–590. Admissions details

    What we know

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
    Admit rate
    87%

    Less selective than 69% of colleges

    National median 77.3%

    Avg. net price
    $16,754
    per year, after aid

    Near the national median

    National median $16,403

    Graduation rate
    51.2%
    within six years

    Near the national median

    National median 46%

    Median earnings
    $62,010
    10 years after entry

    Higher than 75% of colleges

    National median $50,155

    Students
    3,511

    Larger than 71% of colleges

    National median 1,603

    Western Connecticut State UniversityMiddle half of collegesNational median

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    Admissions

    Western Connecticut State University admitted 87% of 4,688 applicants.

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
    1. Applicants4,688

      87% of applicants were admitted

    2. Admitted3,978

      17.5% of admitted students enrolled (yield)

    3. Enrolled (first-year)698
    Bar length is relative to the number of applicants. Enrolled counts first-time, first-year students.

    Middle 50% test scores

    SAT Reading & Writing
    510–580
    200800
    SAT Math
    530–590
    200800
    The band runs from the 25th to the 75th percentile of first-year students who submitted scores, drawn on each test's full scale.
    Check your chances at Western Connecticut State UniversityFree toolYour SAT or ACT against the middle 50% of admitted students: reach, target or likely.

    Cost & financial aid

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025

    Average net price

    $16,754

    What students paid per year on average after grants and scholarships. Your price depends on family income.

    Published price vs. what students paid

    In-state tuition & fees
    $13,401
    Out-of-state tuition & fees
    $16,901
    Average net price
    $16,754
    Tuition is the published yearly price. Average net price is the yearly cost of attendance (tuition, housing, food, books) minus grants and scholarships.

    Students receiving Pell Grants

    Pell Grant recipients
    41.8%
    Share of undergraduates who receive a federal Pell Grant, a common signal of how many students come from lower-income families.

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    Outcomes

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
    51.2%

    Graduation rate

    First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time

    73.2%

    First-year retention

    Students who return for a second year

    Median earnings

    $62,010

    Former students who received federal aid

    Graduate earnings by major at Western Connecticut State University

    Programs at Western Connecticut State University

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, 2025

    Bachelor's majors where Western Connecticut State University is ranked in CollegesRef's value rankings. Earnings are medians 4 years after graduating, for graduates who received federal aid; the tick on each bar marks the median of all ranked colleges in that field.

    Criminal justice

    Ranked #38 of 379 for value

    Criminal Justice and Corrections · 69 graduates

    Earnings 4 yrs after
    $66,510
    Ranked-college median: $55,481
    Median debt
    $19,811
    Ranked-college median: $21,500
    Best colleges for criminal justice

    Marketing

    Ranked #150 of 354 for value

    Marketing · 40 graduates

    Earnings 4 yrs after
    $68,490
    Ranked-college median: $67,486
    Median debt
    $16,625
    Ranked-college median: $19,523
    Best colleges for marketing

    Finance

    Ranked #182 of 330 for value

    Finance and Financial Management Services · 24 graduates

    Earnings 4 yrs after
    $81,768
    Ranked-college median: $77,916
    Median debt
    $23,362
    Ranked-college median: $19,500
    Best colleges for finance

    Nursing

    Ranked #190 of 686 for value

    Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 69 graduates

    Earnings 4 yrs after
    $96,483
    Ranked-college median: $85,171
    Median debt
    $25,160
    Ranked-college median: $20,938
    Best colleges for nursing

    Accounting

    Ranked #214 of 408 for value

    Accounting and Related Services · 30 graduates

    Earnings 4 yrs after
    $80,895
    Ranked-college median: $76,108
    Median debt
    $24,250
    Ranked-college median: $20,500
    Best colleges for accounting

    Communications

    Ranked #308 of 388 for value

    Communication and Media Studies · 44 graduates

    Earnings 4 yrs after
    $52,385
    Ranked-college median: $56,130
    Median debt
    $24,052
    Ranked-college median: $19,593
    Best colleges for communications

    Biology

    Ranked #502 of 680 for value

    Biology, General · 29 graduates

    Earnings 4 yrs after
    $52,458
    Ranked-college median: $58,001
    Median debt
    $20,250
    Ranked-college median: $20,717
    Best colleges for biology

    Psychology

    Ranked #513 of 814 for value

    Psychology, General · 78 graduates

    Earnings 4 yrs after
    $50,410
    Ranked-college median: $51,007
    Median debt
    $25,000
    Ranked-college median: $21,000
    Best colleges for psychology
    Western Connecticut State University rankings by major, with the score behind each rank

    Academics

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025

    Total students

    3,511

    Academic calendar

    Semester

    Carnegie classification

    Master's university

    A College or University that also has a medium number of Master’s Degree programs.

    Location & details

    Where the campus is, how far it sits from a major city, and other colleges within reach.

    Western Connecticut State UniversityDanbury, CT, United States

    Distances are straight-line miles, not driving distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles by OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.

    Campus

    Western Connecticut State University

    Danbury, CT, United States

    • Public
    • Master's university

    Small city

    Inside an urbanized area and a principal city.

    1. City (this campus)
    2. Suburb
    3. Town
    4. Rural

    Nearest major cityHartford, CT · about 47 mi

    In the city250 mi

    Calendar
    Semester
    Website
    wcsu.edu

    Still have a question?

    Ask about admissions, cost or campus life at Western Connecticut State University. Answers come from CollegesRef data.

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    Special features

    What sets this college apart, grouped by theme, each with what it means and the data or editorial tag behind it.

    CollegesRef editorial

    Cost & aid

    Affordable

    Lower cost than many comparable colleges for a typical family.

    Average net price $16,754 a year after aid

    Athletics

    NCAA Division III · No athletic scholarships; athletes balance sports and academics.

    1. D-INCAA Division I
    2. D-IINCAA Division II
    3. D-IIINCAA Division III (this college)
    4. NAIANAIA
    5. NJCAANJCAA

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    Compare before you decide

    Admit rate, net price and outcomes for Western Connecticut State University and Eastern Connecticut State University, side by side.

    Compare with Eastern Connecticut State University

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the Western Connecticut State University acceptance rate for 2026?

    Western Connecticut State University admitted 87% of 4,688 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, the most recent release. That is the figure colleges report to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

    How much is Western Connecticut State University tuition?

    In-state tuition at Western Connecticut State University is $13,401 and out-of-state tuition is $16,901 a year before financial aid in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. The average net price after grants is $16,754 a year.

    What is the average net price at Western Connecticut State University?

    The average net price at Western Connecticut State University, what first-time, full-time students paid after grants and scholarships, was $16,754 a year in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. Your own price depends on family income; the college's net price calculator gives a personal estimate.

    What is the graduation rate at Western Connecticut State University?

    51.2% of first-time, full-time students at Western Connecticut State University graduate within six years (150% of normal time), according to the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.

    What colleges are similar to Western Connecticut State University?

    The closest matches are Eastern Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University, and Central Connecticut State University, based on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile.

    Sources

    Last checked Nov 3, 2026

    Admissions
    U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
    Cost
    U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
    Outcomes
    U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
    Enrollment
    U.S. College Scorecard · 2025

    Figures come from federal reporting. Text marked “CollegesRef editorial” is our own summary, and similar-college lists come from CollegesRef matching. How we source data

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