Quad

Head-to-head

Central Connecticut State
Empire State

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Central Connecticut State graduates 12 pts more of its students than Empire State (61% vs. 48%)

    Graduation rate
  2. 2

    Empire State has 6 pts more first-gen students than Central Connecticut State (45% vs. 39%)

    First-generation students
  3. 3

    Empire State is more diverse (index 0.71 vs. 0.66)

    Diversity index
  4. 4

    Central Connecticut State grads earn $4.5K more ten years out than Empire State's ($58,562 vs. $54,080)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  5. 5

    Central Connecticut State has 2 pts more Pell recipients than Empire State (38% vs. 37%)

    Pell Grant recipients
  6. 6

    Central Connecticut State is a bit larger (7,822 vs. 7,585)

    Undergrads

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

Central Connecticut State admits 79%; Empire State doesn't report an acceptance rate.

Acceptance rate
Central Connecticut State79%
Empire StateNot reported
Quad's selectivity
  • Central Connecticut StateOpenfrom ConnecticutAccessiblefrom other states
  • Empire StateNot rated
SAT middle 50%Axis 800–1600
Central Connecticut State
900–1140
Empire StateNot reported
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • Central Connecticut StateRigor, GPA, and rank very important14%
  • Empire StateNot reported

Who's on each campus

Central Connecticut State and Empire State are about the same size; Central Connecticut State has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Central Connecticut State7.8K
Empire State7.6K
Pell Grant share
Central Connecticut State38%
Empire State37%

Majors and faculty

Psychology leads at both; Central Connecticut State has 14 students per faculty member to Empire State's 17.

Students per faculty member
Central Connecticut State14 to 1
Empire State17 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • Central Connecticut StatePsychology, General8%
  • Empire StatePsychology, General16%

What each costs

Only Central Connecticut State reports an average cost ($22K).

Average cost, all students
Central Connecticut State$22K
Empire StateNot reported
Aid generosity
Central Connecticut State27%
Empire StateNot reported

What each pays off

Central Connecticut State's former students earn more, a median $58.6K ten years after enrolling.

Median earnings, 10 years
Central Connecticut State$58.6K
Empire State$54.1K
Graduation rate
Central Connecticut State61%
Empire State48%

How each has changed

Applications held steady at Central Connecticut State, which got less selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • Central Connecticut StateSteady+9%
  • Empire StateNot reported
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:Central Connecticut State University (Fall 2025), Fall 2025;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Central Connecticut State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;Central Connecticut State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2019;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why