Charter Oak State College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Charter Oak State College charges a net price of $15,815/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $63,260. Graduates earn a median $64,209 ten years after entry, $15,849/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 4 years — a 20-year net return of $253,720, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Charter Oak State College's 4-year payback ranks #286 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 78% of them, and #8 of 36 in Connecticut.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $15,815/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $63,260 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $64,209 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $15,849/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $18,683 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $253,720 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Charter Oak State College's own numbers. Net price $15,815 × 4 years = $63,260 total. Median earnings $64,209 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $15,849 a year of premium. $63,260 ÷ $15,849 = 4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $253,720. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Charter Oak State College students graduate with?
A median $18,683 in federal loans among completers, or 29% of the $64,209 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Charter Oak State College students graduate?
67% finish their degree — 33% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $63,260 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $94,418 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Charter Oak State College expensive compared with other Connecticut colleges?
Its $15,815 net price runs $10,237 below the $26,052 median across the 36 Connecticut colleges we profile, and $40,946 less across the full degree.