The Best Business Schools in Hartford for 2027
Key Points: Best Business Schools in Hartford
- University of Connecticut ranks #1 in the Hartford area on a 95.3 Program Score, with an 83% graduation rate.
- Public schools hold most of the places on this list.
- Cost and quality are not opposites here: the lowest-tuition program on the list, Central Connecticut State University, ranks #3.
- Programs analyzed
- 52
- Schools ranked
- 5
- Tuition range
- $6,998-$46,978
- Average graduation rate
- 64%
We analyzed 52 accredited business programs in Hartford and the surrounding metro and ranked 5 schools on graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes. Tuition across the 5 ranked schools runs from $6,998 to $46,978 a year, a $39,980 spread for the same credential.
University of Connecticut leads with a 95.3 Program Score on an 83% graduation rate, at $17,010 a year. Across all 5 ranked business schools in Hartford the average graduation rate is 64%, ranging from 48% to 83%. 3 of the 5 are public and 2 are private, a split that drives most of the price gap below.
The Top Business Schools in Hartford at a Glance
Connecticut leads at 95.3, and Saint Joseph closes the chart at 72.8. Longer bars rank higher.
How the Business Schools in Hartford Are Scored
Each Program Score runs from 0 to 100: outcomes count for 44%, selectivity and academics for 38%, and scale and value for 18%, all from federal data. See how the weights work.
The 5 Best Business Schools in Hartford, Ranked for 2027
The 5 best Business Schools in Hartford, ranked by outcomes.
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 83%
- Admit rate
- 52%
- In-state
- $17,010
- Out-of-state
- $39,678
University of Connecticut's accounting B.S. points CPA candidates to a 30-credit M.S. in Accounting that meets Connecticut's 150-hour requirement.
- Program Score 95.3
- 83% graduation rate
- $17,010 in-state tuition
- Accelerated B.S./M.S. in under 5 years
The University of Connecticut offers a Bachelor of Science in Business with a major in Accounting, taught in person on the Storrs campus. It combines a general business background with junior and senior accounting and business law courses. Required major courses include Intermediate Accounting I and II, Cost Accounting, Federal Income Taxes, Assurance Services, and Accounting Information Systems and Data Analytics. Students must complete several of these in residence and keep a 2.0 GPA across their accounting courses. Students preparing for the CPA exam are directed to also apply to the school's M.S. in Accounting, a 30-credit program designed to meet the 150-hour education requirement in Connecticut, and an accelerated B.S./M.S. track lets undergraduates finish both in under five years. Those aiming for the CMA exam are told to consult an accounting advisor about electives.
UConn admits 52% of applicants, and 83% of students graduate. In-state tuition is $17,010 and out-of-state tuition is $39,678. The program earns a Program Score of 95.3 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want an accounting degree with a clear CPA or CMA pathway and who may stay on for the accelerated master's.
Charter Oak State College
New Britain, CT · Public · online option
- Grad rate
- 67%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $7,896
- Out-of-state
- $7,896
Charter Oak State College offers business administration fully online with three concentrations and a fast-track path to graduate credit at the bachelor's rate.
- Program Score 88.7
- 67% graduation rate
- $7,896 flat tuition, in-state and out-of-state
- 100% online, Six Sigma belts
Charter Oak State College offers a BS in Business Administration that is delivered with 100% online coursework, part time or full time. Students choose among three concentrations: entrepreneurship, general business or project management. The core includes financial and managerial accounting, business law, international business, financial management, marketing and organizational behavior, and the program ends with a business administration capstone. Major courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher. The school says students can earn Six Sigma Yellow Belt and Green Belt certifications, and it describes an on-ramp to CAPM, PMP and Scrum Master credentials. Credit for industry credentials is available, and a fast-track option lets qualified students earn graduate credit at the bachelor's rate toward an M.S. in organizational leadership or health data analytics.
The Program Score is 88.7 out of 100, which is the basis of this ranking. Charter Oak is open admission, and federal data shows a 67% graduation rate. Tuition is a flat $7,896 for in-state and out-of-state students, so residency does not change the price. The program fits working adults, transfer students and community college graduates who need a self-paced online route to a bachelor's degree with certifications built in.
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT · Public
- Grad rate
- 48%
- Admit rate
- 73%
- Tuition
- Varies by program
The M.S. in Accounting emphasizes analytics and technology and lets students attend full or part time with evening classes on campus and online.
- Program Score 81.8
- 48% graduation rate
- 73% admit rate
- 30 credits, full or part time
Central Connecticut State University's Master of Science in Accounting is a 30-credit program designed to give students in-depth working knowledge of advanced accounting issues and emerging technologies. Students can study full or part time, and classes are offered in the evening on campus and online, with start dates in January, May and August. The curriculum covers the theory behind accounting standards, fund accounting, audit planning, risk analysis, assessing internal control and presenting audit findings. The page says the degree meets the education requirements for CPA licensure in Connecticut and emphasizes analytics, including the newly identified disciplines in the 2024 licensure model. Learning outcomes center on advanced accounting competence, research skills, communication and ethical reasoning. The business school is an AACSB member, according to the page.
Central Connecticut admits 73% of applicants, and 48% of students graduate. The program earns a Program Score of 81.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a public-university route to CPA eligibility with an analytics focus and a schedule that can work around a day job.
Goodwin University
East Hartford, CT · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 58%
- Admit rate
- Open admission
- In-state
- $19,988
- Out-of-state
- $19,988
Goodwin University's business administration bachelor's is a 121-credit program with a strategic planning capstone and a year-by-year core.
- Program Score 79.4
- 58% graduation rate
- $19,988 tuition, in-state and out-of-state
- 121 credits, strategic planning capstone
Goodwin University offers a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration totaling 121 credits. The curriculum has 40 credits of general education, 6 programmatic general education credits including principles of statistics, 48 credits in the business major core and 27 credits of open electives. The major core runs year by year, from introduction to management, business law and ethics, and budgeting and planning, through small business and entrepreneurship, marketing and principles of finance, to e-business and targeted marketing and social media. Seniors take business research and finish with a capstone in strategic planning. Directed electives can come from accounting, business, economics, organizational studies or business management prefixes. The page notes that courses are offered in a hybrid format, combining on-campus and online learning, and that Goodwin reviews transfer transcripts quickly.
Goodwin's Program Score is 79.4 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. The university is open admission and reports a 58% graduation rate. Tuition is $19,988 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The program fits students who want a structured four-year path with a clear course sequence and a hybrid schedule, and its transfer review makes it practical for those bringing prior credits.
University of Saint Joseph
West Hartford, CT · Nonprofit
- Grad rate
- 64%
- Admit rate
- 79%
- In-state
- $46,978
- Out-of-state
- $46,978
University of Saint Joseph's B.S. in Management builds in a 3 to 6 credit supervised internship, with past majors placed at employers such as IBM, The Travelers and Aetna.
- 64% graduation rate
- Program Score 72.8
- $46,978 tuition
- 3 to 6 credit internship
The University of Saint Joseph offers a Bachelor of Science in Management through its School of Arts, Sciences, Business, and Education. The curriculum covers management concepts alongside human resources, operations, law, accounting, financial management and international business. A supervised internship worth 3 to 6 credits is part of the coursework, and students can complete it in a corporate, nonprofit or public sector organization. The school lists past management majors who interned at IBM, United Technologies, American Airlines, Saint Francis Hospital and The Travelers, among others. Seniors who want a graduate degree can take two courses from the university's Master of Science in Management program while still undergraduates, which shortens the path to the master's.
The program's Program Score is 72.8 out of 100, the basis of its ranking here. The federal data shows a 64% graduation rate and a 79% admit rate, so most applicants are accepted. Tuition is $46,978 for in-state and out-of-state students alike. The school enrolls 1,952 students, which keeps classes small. This fits students who want a general management degree with a built-in internship and an optional head start on a graduate degree, and who are comfortable with private-college pricing.
Open admission: the school admits every qualified applicant, so it reports no admit rate.
Graduation Rates at the Ranked Business Schools in Hartford
The median school on this list graduates 64% of its students. The highest rates belong to University of Connecticut (83%) and Charter Oak State College (67%). The school with the highest rate is also ranked #1.
- #1 University of Connecticut83% graduation rate
- #2 Charter Oak State College67% graduation rate
- #5 University of Saint Joseph64% graduation rate
Institution-wide graduation rates reported to IPEDS. They describe the whole school, not this program alone.
How Selective Are the Business Schools in Hartford?
On this list, 2 of 5 schools are open-admission, taking every qualified applicant. Every school here that reports an admit rate takes at least half of its applicants; the median is 73%.
- #1 University of Connecticut52% admitted
- #3 Central Connecticut State University73% admitted
- #5 University of Saint Joseph79% admitted
Institution-wide admit rates for first-time applicants, reported to IPEDS. Open-admission schools do not report one.
Online Options Among the Business Schools in Hartford
Of the 5 schools ranked here, 2 offer distance education. The highest ranked is University of Connecticut, at #1.
- #1 University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT
- #2 Charter Oak State CollegeNew Britain, CT
Based on each school reporting distance-education offerings to IPEDS. Whether this specific degree is fully online varies, so confirm the format with the school.
Campus Size Across the Business Schools in Hartford
Enrollment on this list runs from 1,952 at University of Saint Joseph to 28,306 at University of Connecticut. Of the 5, 1 enrolls 20,000 students or more and 3 enroll fewer than 5,000.
Total institution enrollment reported to IPEDS, all levels and programs.
What Graduates of the Business Schools in Hartford Earn
| Rank | School | Median earnings, 4 years outEarnings, 4 yrs | Average net priceNet price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University of ConnecticutConnecticut | $106,959 | $24,342 |
| #2 | Charter Oak State CollegeCharter Oak State College | $82,069 | $14,594 |
| #3 | Central Connecticut State UniversityCentral Connecticut State | $103,777 | $15,537 |
| #4 | Goodwin UniversityGoodwin | $69,592 | $31,759 |
Graduates of Connecticut earn the most four years after finishing, a median of $106,959; the lowest figure here is $69,592 at Goodwin.
Connecticut leads on both counts: the top rank among these schools and the highest graduate pay.
Net price, what the average aided undergraduate pays after grants, ranges from $14,594 a year at Charter Oak State College to $31,759 at Goodwin.
College Scorecard, October 2026 release. Earnings cover each school's programs in this field at this degree level; net price is for full-time first-time undergraduates receiving aid.
What Business Schools in Hartford Cost
Tuition across the 5 ranked schools runs from $6,998 to $46,978 a year. Central Connecticut State University in New Britain anchors the low end at $6,998 a year, while University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford sits at the top at $46,978. The cheapest public option among the business schools in Hartford is Central Connecticut State University in New Britain at $6,998; the cheapest private is Goodwin University in East Hartford at $19,988.
Over the four years a bachelor's takes, that is roughly $27,992 in tuition at Central Connecticut State University against about $187,912 at University of Saint Joseph. Public figures here are the in-state resident rate, so an applicant moving to Hartford from another state should read the out-of-state column before treating the cheap end of this list as cheap.
Published annual tuition and required fees reported to IPEDS. Private schools charge one rate regardless of residency; public schools charge non-residents the out-of-state rate shown on each card.
Which Business Major to Choose in Hartford
Business school covers a dozen different degrees, and the business schools in Hartford do not all offer the same ones. Across the 52 accredited programs analyzed here, the fields with the deepest coverage in Hartford are business administration (5 schools), accounting (4 schools), finance (3 schools), marketing (3 schools), and human resources (3 schools). A school ranked highly overall is not automatically strong in the major you want, so check the field before the name.
Accounting is the one track bound to a license: most states now license CPAs on either 150 credit hours and one year of experience or a bachelor's and two years, so the choice between a fifth year of school and a longer apprenticeship shapes the course plan from the first year rather than the last. 4 of the schools analyzed in Hartford run one.
Public and Private Business Schools in Hartford
3 of the 5 ranked business schools in Hartford are public and 2 are private, and that split drives most of the $39,980 tuition spread above. The public rate is a residency benefit: Central Connecticut State University charges $6,998 in-state and $10,498 out of state, so where a student already lives changes this ranking more than any other single factor.
Control (public, private nonprofit, for-profit) as reported to IPEDS. Public schools usually charge residents less; private schools charge everyone the same rate.
Why Study Business in Hartford
The 5 ranked schools sit across 4 towns in the metro, among them Storrs, New Britain, and East Hartford, and the table names the city of each, so check the commute before assuming a suburban campus is the convenient option. 2 of the 5 also run a confirmed online option for students who cannot be on campus daily.
Keep Exploring
Business Schools in Hartford: Your Questions, Answered
What is the best business school in Hartford?
By Program Score, University of Connecticut ranks first among the 5 ranked business schools in Hartford, with a 95.3 score and an 83% graduation rate. The score weighs graduation rate, selectivity, cost, and outcomes together, so the top school balances all four rather than winning on any one of them.
Can you study business part-time in Hartford?
Yes. Evening, weekend and part-time formats are common across the business schools in Hartford, and in a metro this size most schools run at least one. The tradeoff is length rather than content: the same credential takes longer while you keep working. Ask each school for the completion rate of its part-time cohort specifically, since it often differs from the headline graduation rate this ranking uses.
How much does a business degree cost in Hartford?
Tuition among the ranked Hartford schools runs from $6,998 to $46,978 a year. Public schools publish the in-state resident rate, so students moving in from another state should check the out-of-state column before comparing. Neither figure includes Hartford living costs, which are a real part of the total.
How many business schools in Hartford does this ranking cover?
We analyzed 52 accredited business programs across Hartford and the surrounding metro and ranked the top 5 schools, listing one entry per school on its strongest program. This list covers the Hartford metro area, so some schools sit outside the city line; the city of each is shown in the table.
Is it worth studying business in Hartford instead of online?
2 of the 5 ranked schools run a confirmed online option, so in Hartford this is a live choice rather than a hypothetical one. An accredited online program carries identical standing on a transcript, since accreditation attaches to the school and the program rather than to the delivery format. What a campus adds is proximity to the employers that school recruits into, and at $6,998 in-state, Central Connecticut State University is what that proximity costs at the low end here. The honest comparison is local access against the cost of being here.