Quad

Head-to-head

Western Connecticut State
Sonoma State

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Sonoma State graduates 14 pts more of its students than Western Connecticut State (69% vs. 56%)

    Graduation rate
  2. 2

    Western Connecticut State's grants cover 36% of its full price on average, vs. 27% at Sonoma State

    Aid generosity
  3. 3

    Western Connecticut State's yield is 8 pts higher than Sonoma State's

    Yield rate
  4. 4

    Sonoma State grads earn $6.9K more ten years out than Western Connecticut State's ($65,986 vs. $59,115)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  5. 5

    Sonoma State is a bit larger (5,166 vs. 3,511)

    Undergrads
  6. 6

    Sonoma State has 3 pts more first-gen students than Western Connecticut State (41% vs. 38%)

    First-generation students

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

Western Connecticut State admits 87%, Sonoma State 93%; Western Connecticut State's yield is higher, at 17%.

Acceptance rate
Western Connecticut State87%
Sonoma State93%
Quad's selectivity
  • Western Connecticut StateOpen
  • Sonoma StateOpen
SAT middle 50%Axis 900–1600
Western Connecticut State
1040–1170
Sonoma StateTest-blind
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • Western Connecticut StateGPA, school record, and prep program required
  • Sonoma StateGPA, school record, and prep program required

Who's on each campus

Sonoma State is a bit larger than Western Connecticut State (5,166 vs. 3,511 undergrads) and has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Western Connecticut State3.5K
Sonoma State5.2K
Pell Grant share
Western Connecticut State35%
Sonoma State36%

Majors and faculty

Criminal Justice/Police Science leads at Western Connecticut State, and Business Administration and Management at Sonoma State.

Students per faculty member
Western Connecticut State11 to 1
Sonoma State17 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • Western Connecticut StateCriminal Justice/Police Science10%
  • Sonoma StateBusiness Administration and Management, General18%

What each costs

Western Connecticut State and Sonoma State cost about the same a year on average; Western Connecticut State's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Western Connecticut State$19.6K
Sonoma State$20K
Aid generosity
Western Connecticut State36%
Sonoma State27%

What each pays off

Sonoma State's former students earn more, a median $66K ten years after enrolling; both graduate more than 50% within six years.

Median earnings, 10 years
Western Connecticut State$59.1K
Sonoma State$66K
Graduation rate
Western Connecticut State56%
Sonoma State69%

How each has changed

Applications held steady at Western Connecticut State but fell at Sonoma State; both got less selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • Western Connecticut StateSteady+8%
  • Sonoma StateShrinking−22%
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:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;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